1
秦始皇帝者，秦莊襄王子也。 莊襄王為秦質子於趙，見呂不韋姬，悅而取之，生始皇。 以秦昭王四十八年正月生於邯鄲。 及生，名為政，姓趙氏。 年十三歲，莊襄王死，政代立為秦王。 當是之時，秦地已并巴、蜀、漢中，越宛有郢，置南郡矣； 北收上郡以東，有河東、太原、上黨郡； 東至滎陽，滅二周，置三川郡。 呂不韋為相，封十萬戶，號曰文信侯。 招致賓客游士，欲以并天下。 李斯為舍人。 蒙驁、王齮、麃公等為將軍。 王年少，初即位，委國事大臣。
Qin Shihuang was the son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin. While King Zhuangxiang was a hostage in Zhao, he saw Lü Buwei's concubine, took a liking to her, married her, and she gave birth to the First Emperor. He was born in Handan in the first month of Qin King Zhaoxiang's forty-eighth year. When he was born, he was named Zheng and took the surname Zhao. At age thirteen, King Zhuangxiang died and Zheng succeeded him as King of Qin. At this time, Qin had already annexed Ba, Shu, and Hanzhong, advanced beyond Wan to hold Ying, and established Nan commandery; To the north it had collected the lands east of Shang commandery, including Hedong, Taiyuan, and Shangdang commanderies; To the east, Qin reached Xingyang, destroyed the two Zhou states, and established Sanchuan commandery. Lü Buwei served as chancellor, received an enfeoffment of one hundred thousand households, and was titled Lord Wenxin. He recruited guests and wandering scholars with the aim of unifying the world. Li Si served as his attendant. Meng Ao, Wang Qi, Piao Gong, and others served as generals. The king was young and new to the throne, so he entrusted state affairs to his ministers.
2
晉陽反，元年，將軍蒙驁擊定之。 二年，麃公將卒攻卷，斬首三萬。 三年，蒙驁攻韓，取十三城。 王齮死。 十月，將軍蒙驁攻魏氏暢、有詭。 歲大饑。 四年，拔暢、有詭。 三月，軍罷。 秦質子歸自趙，趙太子出歸國。 十月庚寅，蝗蟲從東方來，蔽天。 天下疫。 百姓內粟千石，拜爵一級。 五年，將軍驁攻魏，定酸棗、燕、虛、長平、雍丘、山陽城，皆拔之，取二十城。 初置東郡。 冬雷。 六年，韓、魏、趙、衛、楚共擊秦，取壽陵。 秦出兵，五國兵罷。 拔衛，迫東郡，其君角率其支屬徙居野王，阻其山以保魏之河內。 七年，彗星先出東方，見北方，五月見西方。 將軍驁死。 以攻龍、孤、慶都，還兵攻汲。 彗星復見西方十六日。 夏太后死。 八年，王弟長安君成蟜將軍擊趙，反，死屯留，軍吏皆斬死，遷其民於臨洮。 將軍壁死，卒屯留、蒲鶴反，戮其尸。 河魚大上，輕車重馬東就食。
Jinyang rebelled. In the first year, General Meng Ao attacked and brought it under control. In the second year, General Bi Gong attacked Juan with his troops and beheaded thirty thousand. In the third year, Meng Ao attacked Han and captured thirteen cities. Wang Qi died. In the tenth month, General Meng Ao attacked Chang and Yougui of Wei. There was a severe famine that year. In the fourth year, Qin captured Chang and Yougui. In the third month, the army was dismissed. Qin's hostage returned from Zhao, and Zhao's crown prince departed to return to his state. In the tenth month on the Gengyin day, locusts came from the east and blotted out the sky. There was an epidemic throughout the empire. Commoners who contributed one thousand shi of grain were advanced one rank in nobility. In the fifth year, General Ao attacked Wei, bringing Suanzhao, Yan, Xu, Changping, Yongqiu, and Shanyang under control. He captured them all, taking twenty cities in total. Dong commandery was established for the first time. There was thunder in winter. In the sixth year, Han, Wei, Zhao, Wei, and Chu joined forces to attack Qin and captured Shouling. Qin sent out troops, and the five states' armies withdrew. They captured Wei and pressed against Dong commandery. Its ruler Jiao led his clan and relatives to move and reside at Yewang, blocking the mountains to preserve Wei's Henan region. In the seventh year, a comet first appeared in the east, was visible in the north, and appeared in the west in the fifth month. General Ao died. After attacking Long, Gu, and Qingdu, they wheeled back and attacked Ji. The comet reappeared in the west for sixteen days. Empress Dowager Xia died. In the eighth year, the king's younger brother Lord Chang'an Cheng Juan, serving as general, attacked Zhao but rebelled. He died at Tunliu, all the army officers were beheaded, and their people were moved to Lintao. General Bi died, and the troops at Tunliu and Puhe rebelled; their corpses were mutilated afterward. Great numbers of river fish swam upstream, and light chariots and heavy horses went east in search of food.
3
嫪毐封為長信侯。 予之山陽地，令毐居之。 宮室車馬衣服苑囿馳獵恣毐。 事無小大皆決於毐。 又以河西太原郡更為毐國。 九年，彗星見，或竟天。 攻魏垣、蒲陽。 四月，上宿雍。 己酉，王冠，帶劍。 長信侯毐作亂而覺，矯王御璽及太后璽以發縣卒及衛卒、官騎、戎翟君公、舍人，將欲攻蘄年宮為亂。 王知之，令相國昌平君、昌文君發卒攻毐。 戰咸陽，斬首數百，皆拜爵，及宦者皆在戰中，亦拜爵一級。 毐等敗走。 即令國中：有生得毐，賜錢百萬； 殺之，五十萬。 盡得毐等。 衛尉竭、內史肆、佐弋竭、中大夫令齊等二十人皆梟首。 車裂以徇，滅其宗。 及其舍人，輕者為鬼薪。 及奪爵遷蜀四千餘家，家房陵。 （四）［是］月寒凍，有死者。 楊端和攻衍氏。 彗星見西方，又見北方，從斗以南八十日。 十年，相國呂不韋坐嫪毐免。 桓齮為將軍。 齊、趙來置酒。 齊人茅焦說秦王曰：「秦方以天下為事，而大王有遷母太后之名，恐諸侯聞之，由此倍秦也。」 秦王乃迎太后於雍而入咸陽，復居甘泉宮。
Lao Ai was enfeoffed as Lord Changxin. He was given Shanyang land and ordered to live there. Palaces, chariots, horses, clothes, gardens, parks, galloping, and hunting—all were provided without limit for Ai. All matters, whether great or small, were decided by Ai. The Hexi and Taiyuan commanderies were once again changed to become Ai's domain. In the ninth year, a comet appeared, sometimes spanning the entire sky. They attacked Wei's Yuan and Puyang. In the fourth month, His Majesty lodged at Yong. On the Jiyou day, the king was crowned and girded with a sword. Lord Changxin Lao Ai plotted rebellion and was discovered. He forged the king's imperial seal and the empress dowager's seal to mobilize county troops, guard troops, official cavalry, Rongdi nobles, and attendants, intending to attack the Qinian Palace in rebellion. The king learned of it and ordered Chancellor Lord Changping and Lord Changwen to dispatch troops to attack Ai. They fought at Xianyang and beheaded several hundred. All participants were granted nobility ranks, and even the eunuchs who took part in the battle were granted one nobility rank. Ai and his followers were beaten and fled. He immediately ordered throughout the state: Whoever captures Ai alive will be granted one million cash; Whoever kills him will receive five hundred thousand. They captured Ai and all his followers. The Commandant of the Guards Jie, the Chamberlain for the Capital Si, the Assistant Archer Jie, the Palace Grandee Ling Qi, and twenty others all had their heads displayed on poles. They were torn apart by chariots as a public warning, and their clans were extinguished. As for their attendants, the lesser ones were sentenced to gather firewood for the ghosts. They stripped the families of their nobility and relocated more than four thousand households to Shu, settling them at Fangling. That month brought bitter cold, and some people died. Yang Duan He attacked Yanshi. A comet appeared in the west, then reappeared in the north, stretching southward from the Dipper for eighty days. In the tenth year, Chancellor Lü Buwei was dismissed because of his involvement with Lao Ai. Huan Yi became a general. Qi and Zhao came to attend the banquet. A man of Qi, Mao Jiao, persuaded the King of Qin, saying, “Qin is presently making the conquest of the world its task, yet Your Majesty bears the reputation of having banished your mother, the Empress Dowager. I fear the feudal lords will hear of this and turn away from Qin.” The King of Qin then went to Yong to welcome the Empress Dowager and brought her back to Xianyang, where she once again resided in the Ganquan Palace.
4
大索，逐客，李斯上書說，乃止逐客令。 李斯因說秦王，請先取韓以恐他國，於是使斯下韓。 韓王患之。 與韓非謀弱秦。 大梁人尉繚來，說秦王曰：「以秦之彊，諸侯譬如郡縣之君，臣但恐諸侯合從，翕而出不意，此乃智伯、夫差、湣王之所以亡也。 願大王毋愛財物，賂其豪臣，以亂其謀，不過亡三十萬金，則諸侯可盡。」 秦王從其計，見尉繚亢禮，衣服食飲與繚同。 繚曰：「秦王為人，蜂準，長目，摯鳥膺，豺聲，少恩而虎狼心，居約易出人下，得志亦輕食人。 我布衣，然見我常身自下我。 誠使秦王得志於天下，天下皆為虜矣。 不可與久游。」 乃亡去。 秦王覺，固止，以為秦國尉，卒用其計策。 而李斯用事。
A great search was conducted and guests were expelled, but Li Si presented a memorial persuading the king, and the order to expel guests was rescinded. Li Si therefore persuaded the King of Qin, requesting that they first take Han to intimidate the other states. The king then sent Li Si to Han. The King of Han was alarmed by this. He conspired with Han Fei to weaken Qin. Wei Liao of Daliang came and persuaded the King of Qin, saying, “Given Qin’s strength, the feudal lords are no more than rulers of commanderies and counties. I only fear that they may join in alliance and suddenly unite against Qin, as Zhi Bo, Fucha, and King Min once did. I hope Your Majesty will not begrudge wealth and valuables, but will use them to bribe the feudal lords’ powerful ministers and disrupt their plans. It will cost no more than three hundred thousand in gold, and the feudal lords can all be exhausted.” The King of Qin followed his plan. He received Wei Liao with the highest honors, matching Liao’s clothing, food, and drink to his own. Liao said, 'The King of Qin as a man has a prominent nose, long eyes, and a hawk-like chest, a jackal's voice, little kindness but a tiger-and-wolf heart. When in straitened circumstances he easily humbles himself before others; when he obtains his will, he also treats human lives lightly. I am a man in commoner's clothes, yet when he sees me he often humbles himself and places himself below me. If the King of Qin truly gets his way with the world, everyone under heaven will become his captive. One cannot associate with him for long.' So he fled. The King of Qin became aware and firmly detained him, appointing him Commandant of Qin, and eventually adopted his strategies. And Li Si took charge of affairs.
5
十一年，王翦、桓齮、楊端和攻鄴，取九城。 王翦攻閼與、橑楊，皆并為一軍。 翦將十八日，軍歸斗食以下，什推二人從軍取鄴安陽，桓齮將。 十二年，文信侯不韋死，竊葬。 其舍人臨者，晉人也逐出之； 秦人六百石以上奪爵，遷； 五百石以下不臨，遷，勿奪爵。 自今以來，操國事不道如嫪毐、不韋者籍其門，視此。 秋，復嫪毐舍人遷蜀者。 當是之時，天下大旱，六月至八月乃雨。
In the eleventh year, Wang Jian, Huan Yi, and Yang Duan He attacked Ye and captured nine cities. Wang Jian attacked Eyu and Laoyang, and the forces were combined into one army. Jian served as general for eighteen days. The army dismissed those of dou shi rank and below. One out of every ten pressed two persons to follow the army and take Ye and Anyang, with Huan Yi as general. In the twelfth year, Lord Wenxin Lü Buwei died and was buried in secret. His attendants who attended the funeral, including Jin people, were also driven out; Qin people of six hundred shi rank and above were stripped of nobility and moved; Those of five hundred shi rank and below who did not attend were relocated but not stripped of their nobility. From now on, those who handle state affairs improperly like Lao Ai and Lü Buwei will have their households registered—take this as a warning. In autumn, the attendants of Lao Ai who had been relocated to Shu were moved again. At this time, a great drought afflicted the empire. It did not rain from the sixth month until the eighth month.
6
十三年，桓齮攻趙平陽，殺趙將扈輒，斬首十萬。 王之河南。 正月，彗星見東方。 十月，桓齮攻趙。 十四年，攻趙軍於平陽，取宜安，破之，殺其將軍。 桓齮定平陽、武城。 韓非使秦，秦用李斯謀，留非，非死雲陽。 韓王請為臣。
In the thirteenth year, Huan Yi attacked Zhao at Pingyang, killed Hu Zhe, the Zhao general, and took one hundred thousand heads. The king made a royal tour through Henan. In the first month, a comet was seen in the east. In the tenth month, Huan Yi launched an attack on Zhao. In the fourteenth year, they attacked the Zhao army at Pingyang, captured Yian, routed it, and killed its general. Huan Yi brought Pingyang and Wucheng under control. Han Fei was sent as an envoy to Qin. Qin followed Li Si's plan, detained Fei, and Fei died at Yunyang. The King of Han requested to become a vassal.
7
十五年，大興兵，一軍至鄴，一軍至太原，取狼孟。 地動。 十六年九月，發卒受地韓南陽假守騰。 初令男子書年。 魏獻地於秦。 秦置麗邑。 十七年，內史騰攻韓，得韓王安，盡納其地，以其地為郡，命曰潁川。 地動。 華陽太后卒。 民大饑。
In the fifteenth year, they mobilized a large army—one force went to Ye, another to Taiyuan—and they captured Langmeng. The earth shook. In the sixteenth year, ninth month, they dispatched troops to receive Han's Nanyang lands from the acting governor Teng. For the first time, men were ordered to register their ages. Wei ceded land to Qin. Qin established Liyi. In the seventeenth year, Chamberlain for the Capital Teng attacked Han, captured King An of Han, and took all his lands, establishing them as a commandery named Yingchuan. The earth shook. Empress Dowager Huayang died. A severe famine afflicted the people.
8
十八年，大興兵攻趙，王翦將上地，下井陘，端和將河內，羌瘣伐趙，端和圍邯鄲城。 十九年，王翦、羌瘣盡定取趙地東陽，得趙王。 引兵欲攻燕，屯中山。 秦王之邯鄲，諸嘗與王生趙時母家有仇怨，皆阬之。 秦王還，從太原、上郡歸。 始皇帝母太后崩。 趙公子嘉率其宗數百人之代，自立為代王，東與燕合兵，軍上谷。 大饑。
In the eighteenth year, they mobilized a massive army to attack Zhao. Wang Jian commanded the highlands and descended through Jingxing Pass. Yang Duan He commanded Henan. Qiang Wei attacked Zhao, and Yang Duan He besieged Handan city. In the nineteenth year, Wang Jian and Qiang Wei completely subdued and took Zhao's Dongyang lands, capturing the King of Zhao. They led their troops intending to attack Yan and stationed them at Zhongshan. The King of Qin went to Handan. All those who had once borne grudges against the king's mother's family from the time of his birth in Zhao were thrown into pits. The King of Qin returned, passing through Taiyuan and Shang commandery. The First Emperor’s mother, the Empress Dowager, died. Zhao's Prince Jia led several hundred clansmen to Dai, proclaimed himself King of Dai, allied with Yan to the east, and stationed troops at Shanggu. A severe famine occurred.
9
二十年，燕太子丹患秦兵至國，恐，使荊軻刺秦王。 秦王覺之，體解軻以徇，而使王翦、辛勝攻燕。 燕、代發兵擊秦軍，秦軍破燕易水之西。 二十一年，王賁攻（薊）［荊］。 乃益發卒詣王翦軍，遂破燕太子軍，取燕薊城，得太子丹之首。 燕王東收遼東而王之。 王翦謝病老歸。 新鄭反。 昌平君徙於郢。 大雨雪，深二尺五寸。
In the twentieth year, Yan's Crown Prince Dan, fearing that Qin troops would invade his state, sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin. The King of Qin learned of it, had Jing Ke dismembered and displayed as a warning, and sent Wang Jian and Xin Sheng to attack Yan. Yan and Dai dispatched troops to attack the Qin army, but the Qin army defeated Yan west of the Yi River. In the twenty-first year, Wang Ben launched an attack on Jing. They then additionally sent troops to join Wang Jian's army, then broke the Yan crown prince's army, took Yan's Ji city, and obtained Crown Prince Dan's head. The King of Yan gathered Liaodong to the east and ruled there as king. Wang Jian declined on grounds of age and illness and returned home. Xinzheng rebelled. Lord Changping relocated to Ying. Heavy snow fell, reaching a depth of two chi and five cun.
10
二十二年，王賁攻魏，引河溝灌大梁，大梁城壞，其王請降，盡取其地。
In the twenty-second year, Wang Ben attacked Wei, diverted river channels to flood Daliang. The city's walls collapsed, its king surrendered, and Qin took all its territory.
11
二十三年，秦王復召王翦，彊起之，使將擊荊。 取陳以南至平輿，虜荊王。 秦王游至郢陳。 荊將項燕立昌平君為荊王，反秦於淮南。 二十四年，王翦、蒙武攻荊，破荊軍，昌平君死，項燕遂自殺。
In the twenty-third year, the King of Qin summoned Wang Jian again, forcibly recalled him from retirement, and made him general to attack Jing. They took territory from Chen southward to Pingyu and captured the King of Jing. The King of Qin toured Ying and Chen. Jing general Xiang Yan established Lord Changping as King of Jing and rebelled against Qin south of the Huai River. In the twenty-fourth year, Wang Jian and Meng Wu attacked Jing, defeated the Jing army. Lord Changping died, and Xiang Yan then committed suicide.
12
二十五年，大興兵，使王賁將，攻燕遼東，得燕王喜。 還攻代，虜代王嘉。 王翦遂定荊江南地； 降越君，置會稽郡。 五月，天下大酺。
In the twenty-fifth year, they mobilized a large army, appointed Wang Ben as general, attacked Yan's Liaodong, and captured King Xi of Yan. They then attacked Dai and captured King Jia. Wang Jian then pacified the Jing lands south of the Jiang; He subjugated the Lord of Yue and established Kuaiji commandery. In the fifth month, there was a great celebration throughout the empire.
13
二十六年，齊王建與其相後勝發兵守其西界，不通秦。 秦使將軍王賁從燕南攻齊，得齊王建。
In the twenty-sixth year, Qi's King Jian, together with his chancellor Hou Sheng, dispatched troops to guard his western border and refused contact with Qin. Qin sent General Wang Ben to attack Qi from south of Yan, and he captured King Jian of Qi.
14
秦王初并天下，令丞相、御史曰：「異日韓王納地效璽，請為藩臣，已而倍約，與趙、魏合從畔秦，故興兵誅之，虜其王。 寡人以為善，庶幾息兵革。 趙王使其相李牧來約盟，故歸其質子。 已而倍盟，反我太原，故興兵誅之，得其王。 趙公子嘉乃自立為代王，故舉兵擊滅之。 魏王始約服入秦，已而與韓、趙謀襲秦，秦兵吏誅，遂破之。 荊王獻青陽以西，已而畔約，擊我南郡，故發兵誅，得其王，遂定其荊地。 燕王昏亂，其太子丹乃陰令荊軻為賊，兵吏誅，滅其國。 齊王用后勝計，絕秦使，欲為亂，兵吏誅，虜其王，平齊地。 寡人以眇眇之身，興兵誅暴亂，賴宗廟之靈，六王咸伏其辜，天下大定。 今名號不更，無以稱成功，傳後世。 其議帝號。」 丞相綰、御史大夫劫、廷尉斯等皆曰：「昔者五帝地方千里，其外侯服夷服諸侯或朝或否，天子不能制。 今陛下興義兵，誅殘賊，平定天下，海內為郡縣，法令由一統，自上古以來未嘗有，五帝所不及。 臣等謹與博士議曰：『古有天皇，有地皇，有泰皇，泰皇最貴。』 臣等昧死上尊號，王為『泰皇』。 命為『制』，令為『詔』，天子自稱曰『朕』。」 王曰：「去『泰』，著『皇』，采上古『帝』位號，號曰『皇帝』。 他如議。」 制曰：「可。」 追尊莊襄王為太上皇。 制曰：「朕聞太古有號毋謚，中古有號，死而以行為謐。 如此，則子議父，臣議君也，甚無謂，朕弗取焉。 自今已來，除謚法。 朕為始皇帝。 後世以計數，二世三世至于萬世，傳之無窮。」
When the King of Qin first unified the world, he commanded the chancellor and imperial secretary, saying, “Earlier, the King of Han submitted his lands and presented his seal, but soon afterward he broke the agreement and joined Zhao and Wei in rebellion against Qin. I raised troops, punished him, and captured his king. I thought this might be good, perhaps bringing warfare to an end. The King of Zhao sent his chancellor Li Mu to make an alliance, and so I returned their hostage prince. But then they broke the alliance and rebelled against our Taiyuan, so I raised troops to punish them and captured their king. Zhao's Prince Jia then proclaimed himself King of Dai, so I raised troops to attack and destroy them. The King of Wei initially agreed to submit and enter Qin, but then plotted with Han and Zhao to attack Qin. Our troops and officials executed them and destroyed their state. The King of Jing offered the lands west of Qingyang, but then broke the agreement and attacked our Nan commandery. So I sent troops to punish them, captured their king, and pacified their Jing lands. The King of Yan was muddled and chaotic; his Crown Prince Dan secretly ordered Jing Ke to act as an assassin. Our troops and officials executed them and destroyed their state. The King of Qi followed Hou Sheng's plan to cut off Qin envoys and wished to rebel. Our troops and officials executed them, captured their king, and pacified the Qi lands. With my insignificant person, I raised troops to execute the violent and chaotic. Relying on the spirit of our ancestral temples, the six kings all admitted their guilt, and the world is now firmly pacified. Now if the name and title are not changed, there is no way to match our success and transmit it to later generations. Let them discuss the imperial title.' Chancellor Wang Wan, Imperial Secretary Feng Jie, Court Judge Li Si, and the others all said, “In former times, the territories of the Five Emperors were only a thousand li square. Beyond them were the domains of the feudal lords and the wild and submissive regions; whether they came to court or not, the Son of Heaven could not control them. Now Your Majesty has raised righteous troops, executed remnant bandits, and pacified the world. Within the seas, all is organized into commanderies and counties, and laws and commands proceed from a single unified authority. From high antiquity until now there has never been such a thing; even the Five Emperors did not achieve this. We ministers respectfully discussed with the scholars and said, 'In ancient times there was the Heaven Emperor, the Earth Emperor, and the Great Emperor. The Great Emperor was the most noble. We, your ministers, risking death, present the honored title: the king shall be 'Great Emperor. Commands are to be called 'decrees,' orders are to be called 'edicts,' and the Son of Heaven is to refer to himself as 'I.' The king said, 'Remove "great," attach "emperor." Adopt the high ancient "emperor" position title, and be titled "Emperor. For the rest, follow the discussion.' The decree said, 'Acceptable.' King Zhuangxiang was posthumously honored as the Supreme Emperor. The decree said, 'I have heard that in high antiquity there were titles but no posthumous names. In middle antiquity there were titles, and after death they took conduct as posthumous names. If it were done in this way, sons would judge their fathers and ministers would judge their rulers. This is deeply improper, and I will not accept it. From now on, abolish the posthumous naming system. I am the First Emperor. Later generations will count them: the Second Generation, Third Generation, until ten thousand generations, transmitting it endlessly.'
15
始皇推終始五德之傳，以為周得火德，秦代周德，從所不勝。 方今水德之始，改年始，朝賀皆自十月朔。 衣服旄旌節旗皆上黑。 數以六為紀，符、法冠皆六寸，而輿六尺，六尺為步，乘六馬。 更名河曰德水，以為水德之始。 剛毅戾深，事皆決於法，刻削毋仁恩和義，然後合五德之數。 於是急法，久者不赦。
The First Emperor traced the succession of the Five Virtues and concluded that Zhou had received the virtue of fire; since Qin replaced Zhou, it followed the virtue that overcame fire. The water virtue has just begun. Change the start of the year; all court congratulations should begin on the first day of the tenth month. Clothes, banners, staffs, and flags were all to be black. Numbers take six as the standard. Tallies and law caps are all six inches. The carriage is six chi; six chi make a pace; and teams use six horses. Change the name of the Yellow River to Virtue Water, as the beginning of the water virtue. Be firm, resolute, fierce, and profound. All matters are decided by law—harsh and strict without benevolence, kindness, harmony, or righteousness. Only then does it match the number of the Five Virtues. The laws were then made strict, and long-standing cases were not pardoned.
16
丞相綰等言：「諸侯初破，燕、齊、荊地遠，不為置王，毋以填之。 請立諸子，唯上幸許。」 始皇下其議於群臣，群臣皆以為便。 廷尉李斯議曰：「周文武所封子弟同姓甚眾，然後屬疏遠，相攻擊如仇讎，諸侯更相誅伐，周天子弗能禁止。 今海內賴陛下神靈一統，皆為郡縣，諸子功臣以公賦稅重賞賜之，甚足易制。 天下無異意，則安寧之術也。 置諸侯不便。」 始皇曰：「天下共苦戰鬬不休，以有侯王。 賴宗廟，天下初定，又復立國，是樹兵也，而求其寧息，豈不難哉！ 廷尉議是。」
Chancellor Wan and the others said, 'The feudal lords have just been broken. Yan, Qi, and Jing are distant lands. If we do not establish kings for them, there will be no way to secure them. We request that the king’s sons be established as kings. May Your Majesty graciously approve it.” The First Emperor sent the discussion down to his ministers, and all the ministers considered it appropriate. Court Judge Li Si argued, saying, 'King Wen and King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed many sons, younger brothers, and kinsmen. Later their kinship grew distant, they attacked one another like enemies, the feudal lords executed and attacked one another in turn, and the Zhou Son of Heaven was unable to stop them. Now within the seas, relying on Your Majesty's divine spirit, all has been unified as commanderies and counties. The imperial sons and meritorious ministers can be richly rewarded from public tax revenues. This is fully sufficient and easy to control. If the world has no dissenting intentions, then this is the method of peace and tranquility. Establishing feudal lords is inconvenient.' The First Emperor said, “The world suffered together from endless warfare because there were marquises and kings. Relying on the ancestral temples, the world has only just been settled. To establish states again would be to plant new armies; seeking peace and rest from that would surely be difficult. The Court Judge's discussion is correct.'
17
分天下以為三十六郡，郡置守、尉、監。 更名民曰「黔首」。 大酺。 收天下兵，聚之咸陽，銷以為鐘鐻，金人十二，重各千石，置廷宮中。 一法度衡石丈尺。 車同軌。 書同文字。 地東至海暨朝鮮，西至臨洮、羌中，南至北向戶，北據河為塞，并陰山至遼東。 徙天下豪富於咸陽十二萬戶。 諸廟及章臺、上林皆在渭南。 秦每破諸侯，寫放其宮室，作之咸陽北阪上，南臨渭，自雍門以東至涇、渭，殿屋複道周閣相屬。 所得諸侯美人鐘鼓，以充入之。
The realm was divided into thirty-six commanderies, each with a governor, a commandery lieutenant, and a supervisor. The name of the people was changed to 'Qianshou.' There was a great celebration. Weapons from throughout the world were collected and gathered at Xianyang. They were melted down to make bells and chimes. Twelve golden statues were made, each weighing a thousand shi, and placed in the court palace. Laws, measures, balances, stones, zhang, and chi were unified. Chariots followed the same track width. Writing used the same characters. The empire extended east to the sea and Chaoxian, west to Lintao and Qiangzhong, south to Beixianghu. To the north it took the Yellow River as its barrier, extending along the Yin Mountains to Liaodong. One hundred twenty thousand households of the empire's powerful and wealthy were relocated to Xianyang. The ancestral temples, Zhangtai, and Shanglin were all located south of the Wei River. Each time Qin defeated a feudal lord, they copied and modeled their palaces and chambers, building them on the northern slope of Xianyang, facing south toward the Wei. From Yong Gate eastward to the Jing and Wei rivers, hall houses, covered walkways, and winding pavilions were connected together. The beauties, bells, and drums obtained from the feudal lords were used to fill and adorn them.
18
二十七年，始皇巡隴西、北地，出雞頭山，過回中。 焉作信宮渭南，已更命信宮為極廟，象天極。 自極廟道通酈山，作甘泉前殿。 筑甬道，自咸陽屬之。 是歲，賜爵一級。 治馳道。
In the twenty-seventh year, the First Emperor toured Longxi and Beidi, emerged at Jitou Mountain, and passed through Huizhong. There he built the Xin Palace south of the Wei. He then renamed the Xin Palace as Ji Temple, imitating the pole of heaven. A road was built from the Ji Temple connecting to Li Mountain, and the Ganquan Front Hall was constructed. A covered walkway was built connecting it from Xianyang. That year, ranks of nobility were advanced by one level. They maintained the imperial roads.
19
二十八年，始皇東行郡縣，上鄒嶧山。 立石，與魯諸儒生議，刻石頌秦德，議封禪望祭山川之事。 乃遂上泰山，立石，封，祠祀。 下，風雨暴至，休於樹下，因封其樹為五大夫。 禪梁父。 刻所立石，其辭曰：
In the twenty-eighth year, the First Emperor traveled east through the commanderies and counties, ascending Zouyishan. He erected a stone and consulted scholars from Lu. He carved on the stone an inscription praising Qin's virtue and discussed the fengshan sacrifices and the lookout sacrifices to mountains and rivers. He then ascended Mount Tai, erected a stone, performed the feng sacrifice, and offered sacrificial rites. As he descended, violent wind and rain suddenly came on. He rested beneath a tree and therefore conferred on that tree the rank of Grandee of the Fifth Order. He performed the shan sacrifice at Liangfu. He carved on the erected stone, and its words said:
20
皇帝臨位，作制明法，臣下修飭。 二十有六年，初并天下，罔不賓服。 親巡遠方黎民，登茲泰山，周覽東極。 從臣思跡，本原事業，祗誦功德。 治道運行，諸產得宜，皆有法式。 大義休明，垂于後世，順承勿革。 皇帝躬聖，既平天下，不懈於治。 夙興夜寐，建設長利，專隆教誨。 訓經宣達，遠近畢理，咸承聖志。 貴賤分明，男女禮順，慎遵職事。 昭隔內外，靡不清凈，施于後嗣。 化及無窮，遵奉遺詔，永承重戒。
The Emperor assumes his position, establishes systems and clarifies laws; the ministers below mend their conduct. In the twenty-sixth year, when he first united the world, none failed to submit. He personally toured the distant regions and common people, ascended this Mount Tai, and comprehensively viewed the eastern extreme. The attendant ministers reflect on the traces, fundamentally originate the affairs, and respectfully recite the merits and virtue. The way of governance operates; all products find their proper use; all have laws and models. Great righteousness is beautifully bright, extending to later generations; obey and receive it, do not change. The Emperor is himself sagely. Having pacified the world, he is tireless in governing it. Rising early and sleeping late, he establishes lasting benefits and gives special honor to teaching and instruction. His teachings and statutes are proclaimed everywhere; distant and near are brought into order, and all receive his sagely will. Noble and base are clearly distinguished; the rites between men and women are orderly; all carefully observe their duties. The separation of inner and outer is made manifest; all is clear and pure, to be handed down to later descendants. His transforming influence reaches without limit; they obey the testamentary edict and forever uphold its grave admonitions.
21
於是乃并勃海以東，過黃、腄，窮成山，登之罘，立石頌秦德焉而去。
He then went east along the Bohai Sea, passed Huang and Zhu, reached the end of Chengshan, ascended Zhifu, erected a stone there praising Qin's virtue, and departed.
22
南登瑯邪，大樂之，留三月。 乃徙黔首三萬戶瑯邪臺下，復十二歲。 作瑯邪臺，立石刻，頌秦德，明得意。 曰：
He ascended Langye to the south, delighted in it greatly, and stayed there for three months. He then moved thirty thousand households of commoners below the Langye terrace, exempting them from taxes for twelve years. He built the Langye terrace, erected stone carvings, praised Qin's virtue, and made clear that he had fulfilled his intentions. It said:
23
維二十八年，皇帝作始。 端平法度，萬物之紀。 以明人事，合同父子。 聖智仁義，顯白道理。 東撫東土，以省卒士。 事已大畢，乃臨于海。 皇帝之功，勸勞本事。 上農除末，黔首是富。 普天之下，摶心揖志。 器械一量，同書文字。 日月所照，舟輿所載。 皆終其命，莫不得意。 應時動事，是維皇帝。 匡飭異俗，陵水經地。 憂恤黔首，朝夕不懈。 除疑定法，咸知所辟。 方伯分職，諸治經易。 舉錯必當，莫不如畫。 皇帝之明，臨察四方。 尊卑貴賤，不踰次行。 瑯邪不容，皆務貞良。 細大盡力，莫敢怠荒。 遠邇辟隱，專務肅莊。 端直敦忠，事業有常。 皇帝之德，存定四極。 誅亂除害，興利致福。 節事以時，諸產繁殖。 黔首安寧，不用兵革。 六親相保，終無寇賊。 驩欣奉教，盡知法式。 六合之內，皇帝之土。 西涉流沙，南盡北戶。 東有東海，北過大夏。 人跡所至，無不臣者。 功蓋五帝，澤及牛馬。 莫不受德，各安其宇。
In the twenty-eighth year, the Emperor began his work. The laws and measures are upright and even, forming the order by which all things are regulated. With this he clarifies human affairs, unites fathers and sons in harmony. Holy wisdom, benevolence, righteousness—manifest and clear are the principles and way. He pacified the eastern lands and inspected the soldiers and officers. His great work was already complete, and he then came to the sea. The Emperor’s merit encouraged labor in the fundamental occupations. Honoring agriculture and eliminating trade, the commoners thereby become rich. Under universal heaven, hearts unite and wills submit. Tools and weapons shared a single standard of measure, and writing used the same characters. Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever boats and carriages can carry people, all live out their allotted span, and none fails to fulfill his purpose. He responds to the times and acts as affairs require: this is truly the Emperor. He rectifies differing customs, crosses waters, and measures the land. He worries over and pities the commoners day and night, without slackening. Doubts are removed and laws established, so all know what they must avoid. The regional officials divide their duties, and every office is easily governed. All appointments and measures are fitting, and nothing departs from the plan. The Emperor’s radiance oversees and inspects the four directions. High and low, noble and base, each keep to their proper rank and conduct. In Langye, such conduct is not tolerated; all strive to be chaste and good. Small and great alike exert themselves fully; none dare be idle or negligent. Far and near, people put aside concealment and devote themselves to reverence and solemn order. Upright, sincere, and loyal, they keep their affairs constant. The Emperor’s virtue preserves and stabilizes the four extremities of the realm. He punishes disorder, removes harm, promotes benefit, and brings good fortune. Affairs are regulated according to the seasons, and all forms of production multiply. The commoners are peaceful and tranquil; weapons and armor are not used. Kin protect one another, and in the end there are no bandits or robbers. Joyfully and happily they receive the teaching; they fully understand the laws and forms. Within the six directions, all is the Emperor’s domain. To the west he crossed the Flowing Sands; to the south he reached Beihu. To the east lies the Eastern Sea; to the north he passes Great Xia. Wherever human footprints reach, none are not his subjects. His achievements surpass the Five Emperors, and his bounty extends even to oxen and horses. All receive his virtue, and each is at peace in their dwelling.
24
維秦王兼有天下，立名為皇帝，乃撫東土，至于瑯邪。 列侯武城侯王離、列侯通武侯王賁、倫侯建成侯趙亥、倫侯昌武侯成、倫侯武信侯馮毋擇、丞相隗林、丞相王綰、卿李斯、卿王戊、五大夫趙嬰、五大夫楊樛從，與議於海上。 曰：「古之帝者，地不過千里，諸侯各守其封域，或朝或否，相侵暴亂，殘伐不止，猶刻金石，以自為紀。 古之五帝三王，知教不同，法度不明，假威鬼神，以欺遠方，實不稱名，故不久長。 其身未歿，諸侯倍叛，法令不行。 今皇帝并一海內，以為郡縣，天下和平。 昭明宗廟，體道行德，尊號大成。 群臣相與誦皇帝功德，刻于金石，以為表經。」
The King of Qin united and possessed the world, established his name as Emperor, then pacified the eastern lands as far as Langye. Marquis of Wucheng Wang Li, Marquis of Tongwu Wang Ben, Marquis of Jiancheng Zhao Hai, Marquis of Changwu Cheng, Marquis of Wuxin Feng Wuze, Chancellor Wei Lin, Chancellor Wang Wan, Minister Li Si, Minister Wang Wu, and the Five Great Officers Zhao Ying and Yang Qiao followed him and deliberated with him at the seaside. He said, 'The emperors of antiquity held lands of no more than a thousand li. The feudal lords each guarded their fief domains; some came to court and some did not. They invaded one another, violence and disorder continued, and cruel attacks did not stop. Yet they still carved metal and stone to make records for themselves. The Five Emperors and Three Kings of antiquity—their teachings differed and their laws and measures were unclear. They borrowed the authority of ghosts and spirits to deceive distant peoples. In reality, they did not live up to their names, and therefore they did not last long. Before those rulers had even died, the feudal lords rebelled against them, and their laws and commands ceased to be carried out. Now the Emperor has unified all within the seas and organized it into commanderies and counties; the world is at peace. He has brought glory to the ancestral temples, embodied the Way, practiced virtue, and brought his honored title to full completion. The ministers together recite the Emperor's merit and virtue and carve it on metal and stone to serve as the enduring standard.'
25
既已，齊人徐市等上書，言海中有三神山，名曰蓬萊、方丈、瀛洲，僊人居之。 請得齋戒，與童男女求之。 於是遣徐市發童男女數千人，入海求僊人。
After this, Xu Shi of Qi and others presented a memorial saying that in the sea there are three divine mountains named Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, where immortals dwell. They requested permission to fast and purify themselves and to seek them with boys and girls. He then dispatched Xu Shi with several thousand virgin boys and girls to go out to sea in search of the immortals.
26
始皇還，過彭城，齋戒禱祠，欲出周鼎泗水。 使千人沒水求之，弗得。 乃西南渡淮水，之衡山、南郡。 浮江，至湘山祠。 逢大風，幾不得渡。 上問博士曰：「湘君神？」 博士對曰：「聞之，堯女，舜之妻，而葬此。」 於是始皇大怒，使刑徒三千人皆伐湘山樹，赭其山。 上自南郡由武關歸。
The First Emperor returned by way of Pengcheng, fasted and purified himself, and prayed and sacrificed, wishing to bring the Zhou tripod up from the Si River. He made a thousand people dive into the water to search for it, but they could not find it. He then crossed the Huai River to the southwest, going to Mount Heng and Nan Commandery. He floated down the Jiang and reached Mount Xiang, where he performed sacrifices. He met a great wind and nearly could not cross. His Majesty asked the erudites, 'Is this the spirit of the Xiang?' The erudites replied, “We have heard that the one buried here is Yao’s daughter and Shun’s wife.” The First Emperor was greatly angered and made three thousand convicts cut down all the trees on Mount Xiang, leaving the mountain bare and red. His Majesty returned from Nan Commandery by way of Wu Pass.
27
二十九年，始皇東游。 至陽武博狼沙中，為盜所驚。 求弗得，乃令天下大索十日。
In the twenty-ninth year, the First Emperor toured east. He reached Yangwu, in the sands of Bolang, where he was alarmed by bandits. They searched but could not find them, so he ordered a great search throughout the world for ten days.
28
登之罘，刻石。 其辭曰：
He ascended Zhifu and carved on stone. Its words said:
29
維二十九年，時在中春，陽和方起。 皇帝東游，巡登之罘，臨照于海。 從臣嘉觀，原念休烈，追誦本始。 大聖作治，建定法度，顯箸綱紀。 外教諸侯，光施文惠，明以義理。 六國回辟，貪戾無厭，虐殺不已。 皇帝哀眾，遂發討師，奮揚武德。 義誅信行，威燀旁達，莫不賓服。 烹滅彊暴，振救黔首，周定四極。 普施明法，經緯天下，永為儀則。 大矣哉！ 宇縣之中，承順聖意。 群臣誦功，請刻于石，表垂于常式。
In the twenty-ninth year, in mid-spring, the harmonious yang had just begun to rise. The Emperor toured east, inspected and ascended Zhifu, and looked out over the sea. The attendant ministers admired the view, reflected on his glorious achievements, and recited the origins from which they began. The great sage created order, established laws and measures, and made the governing principles manifest. Beyond his realm he instructed the feudal lords, brilliantly extending cultured grace and making righteousness and principle clear. The six states were perverse and rebellious, greedy and violent without limit, and never ceased their cruel killings. The Emperor pitied the people and therefore sent out a punitive army, raising high his martial virtue. Righteous executions are carried out faithfully, awe-inspiring splendor reaches broadly, and all submit and obey. He boils and extinguishes the strong and violent, shakes and saves the commoners, comprehensively determines the four extremes. He universally bestows clear laws, orders the world, eternally as the model and standard. How great indeed! Throughout the realm, all received and obeyed his sagely intent. The ministers recited his merit and requested that it be carved in stone, to stand as an enduring model.
30
其東觀曰：二十九年，皇帝春游，覽省遠方。 逮于海隅，遂登之罘，昭臨朝陽。 觀望廣麗，從臣咸念，原道至明。 聖法初興，清理疆內，外誅暴彊。 武威旁暢，振動四極，禽滅六王。 闡并天下，甾害絕息，永偃戎兵。 皇帝明德，經理宇內，視聽不怠。 作立大義，昭設備器，咸有章旗。 職臣遵分，各知所行，事無嫌疑。 黔首改化，遠邇同度，臨古絕尤。 常職既定，後嗣循業，長承聖治。 群臣嘉德，祗誦聖烈，請刻之罘。
Its eastern view says: In the twenty-ninth year, the Emperor tours in spring, views and inspects distant places. He reached the edge of the sea, ascended Zhifu, and shone upon the morning sun. Gazing on the broad and beautiful scene, the attendant ministers all reflected on the Way brought to utmost clarity. When the sagely laws first arose, they cleansed and ordered the lands within the borders and punished the violent and powerful beyond them. Martial power spread broadly, shook the four extremes, and captured and extinguished the six kings. He made plain his unification of the world; calamity and harm ceased entirely, and weapons of war were laid aside forever. The Emperor's bright virtue ordered all within the realm; his attention never slackened. He established great righteousness, clearly set out the implements and standards, and gave everything its proper insignia. Officials observed their assigned roles, each knowing what to do, and affairs were free of suspicion or doubt. The commoners are transformed and changed; distant and near have the same measure; facing the ancient, he cuts off the exceptional. The regular offices having been fixed, later descendants would follow this work and long inherit sagely rule. The ministers praised his virtue, reverently recited his sagely achievements, and requested that they be carved at Zhifu.
31
旋，遂之瑯邪，道上黨入。
He turned back and went to Langye, entering by way of Shangdang.
32
三十年，無事。
In the thirtieth year, there were no major affairs.
33
三十一年十二月，更名臘曰「嘉平」。 賜黔首裏六石米，二羊。 始皇為微行咸陽，與武士四人俱，夜出逢盜蘭池，見窘，武士擊殺盜，關中大索二十日。 米石千六百。
In the thirty-first year, in the twelfth month, he changed the name of the la sacrifice to 'Jiaping.' He granted the commoners six shi of rice per li and two sheep. The First Emperor traveled incognito in Xianyang with four warriors. One night, after going out, they encountered bandits at Lan Pool; the emperor was endangered, and the warriors struck and killed the bandits. Rice cost one thousand six hundred cash per shi.
34
三十二年，始皇之碣石，使燕人盧生求羨門、高誓。 刻碣石門。 壞城郭，決通隄防。 其辭曰：
In the thirty-second year, the First Emperor went to Jieshi and had the Yan man Lu Sheng seek Xianmen and Gaoshi. He carved on Jieshi Gate. He destroyed city walls and breached dikes in order to connect the waterways. Its words said:
35
遂興師旅，誅戮無道，為逆滅息。 武殄暴逆，文復無罪，庶心咸服。 惠論功勞，賞及牛馬，恩肥土域。 皇帝奮威，德并諸侯，初一泰平。 墮壞城郭，決通川防，夷去險阻。 地勢既定，黎庶無繇，天下咸撫。 男樂其疇，女修其業，事各有序。 惠被諸產，久并來田，莫不安所。 群臣誦烈，請刻此石，垂著儀矩。
He then raised armies, punished and destroyed the unprincipled, and extinguished rebellion. By force, he destroyed the violent and rebellious; through civil rule he restored the innocent, and the hearts of the people all submitted. With benevolence, he assessed merit and service; rewards extended even to oxen and horses, and his favor enriched the land. The Emperor exerted his might, and his virtue brought the feudal lords together, beginning an age of great peace. He demolished city walls, opened river defenses, and leveled dangers and obstacles. The terrain having been settled, the common people were free of toil, and the whole world was pacified. Men took pleasure in their fields; women tended to their work; every affair had its proper order. His benevolence covered all living things; after long unification, people returned to the fields, and all were settled in their places. The ministers recited his achievements and requested that this stone be carved, to stand as a displayed model and standard.
36
因使韓終、侯公、石生求僊人不死之藥。 始皇巡北邊，從上郡入。 燕人盧生使入海還，以鬼神事，因奏錄圖書，曰「亡秦者胡也」。 始皇乃使將軍蒙恬發兵三十萬人北擊胡，略取河南地。
Therefore, he had Han Zhong, Hou Gong, and Shi Sheng seek the immortals' medicine of immortality. The First Emperor toured the northern frontier, entering by way of Shang Commandery. The Yan man Lu Sheng was sent out to sea and returned with reports concerning ghosts and spirits. He then presented recorded charts and writings, saying, “The one who will destroy Qin is Hu.” The First Emperor then ordered General Meng Tian to send three hundred thousand men north against the Hu and seize the lands south of the river.
37
三十三年，發諸嘗逋亡人、贅婿、賈人略取陸梁地，為桂林、象郡、南海，以適遣戍。 西北斥逐匈奴。 自榆中并河以東，屬之陰山，以為（三）［四］十四縣，城河上為塞。 又使蒙恬渡河取斑闕、（陶）［陽］山、北假中，筑亭障以逐戎人。 徙謫，實之初縣。 禁不得祠。 明星出西方。 三十四年，適治獄吏不直者，筑長城及南越地。
In the thirty-third year, he dispatched former fugitives, dependent sons-in-law, and merchants to seize the Luliang lands, establishing Guilin, Xiang Commandery, and Nanhai and sending the exiles there as garrisons. He drove the Xiongnu away to the northwest. From Yuzhong along the river to the east, connected to the Yin Mountains, made into forty-four counties, walled the river as a barrier. Again he had Meng Tian cross the river to take Banque, Yangshan, and Beijiazhong, building pavilion barriers to drive out the Rong people. He moved banished people there to fill the new counties. He forbade them to perform sacrifices. A bright star appeared in the west. In the thirty-fourth year, he punished the prison officials who handled cases unjustly, making them build the Great Wall and work in the Nanyue lands.
38
始皇置酒咸陽宮，博士七十人前為壽。 仆射周青臣進頌曰：「他時秦地不過千里，賴陛下神靈明聖，平定海內，放逐蠻夷，日月所照，莫不賓服。 以諸侯為郡縣，人人自安樂，無戰爭之患，傳之萬世。 自上古不及陛下威德。」 始皇悅。 博士齊人淳于越進曰：「臣聞殷周之王千餘歲，封子弟功臣，自為枝輔。 今陛下有海內，而子弟為匹夫，卒有田常、六卿之臣，無輔拂，何以相救哉？ 事不師古而能長久者，非所聞也。 今青臣又面諛以重陛下之過，非忠臣。」 始皇下其議。 丞相李斯曰：「五帝不相復，三代不相襲，各以治，非其相反，時變異也。 今陛下創大業，建萬世之功，固非愚儒所知。 且越言乃三代之事，何足法也？ 異時諸侯并爭，厚招游學。 今天下已定，法令出一，百姓當家則力農工，士則學習法令辟禁。 今諸生不師今而學古，以非當世，惑亂黔首。 丞相臣斯昧死言：古者天下散亂，莫之能一，是以諸侯并作，語皆道古以害今，飾虛言以亂實，人善其所私學，以非上之所建立。 今皇帝并有天下，別黑白而定一尊。 私學而相與非法教，人聞令下，則各以其學議之，入則心非，出則巷議，夸主以為名，異取以為高，率群下以造謗。 如此弗禁，則主勢降乎上，黨與成乎下。 禁之便。 臣請史官非秦記皆燒之。 非博士官所職，天下敢有藏詩、書、百家語者，悉詣守、尉雜燒之。 有敢偶語詩書者棄市。 以古非今者族。 吏見知不舉者與同罪。 令下三十日不燒，黥為城旦。 所不去者，醫藥卜筮種樹之書。 若欲有學法令，以吏為師。」 制曰：「可。」
The First Emperor held a banquet in the Xianyang palace; seventy scholars came before him to wish longevity. The Palace Attendant Zhou Qingchen came forward and praised him, saying, 'In former times, Qin's lands did not exceed a thousand li. Relying on Your Majesty's divine spirit and clear holiness, you pacified and settled all within the seas and drove out the barbarian Yi. Wherever the sun and moon shine, none have failed to submit and obey. He turned the feudal domains into commanderies and counties, so that everyone might live in peace and contentment, free from the calamities of warfare, and transmit this order for ten thousand generations. From high antiquity onward, none has equaled Your Majesty's might and virtue.' The First Emperor was pleased. The scholar, the Qi man Chunyu Yue, advanced and said, 'I have heard that the kings of Yin and Zhou lasted over a thousand years. They enfeoffed sons, younger brothers, and meritorious ministers, making them branch supports for themselves. Now Your Majesty possesses all within the seas, yet your sons and younger brothers remain commoners. If ministers like Tian Chang or the Six Ministers should suddenly appear, with no one to support or correct you, how would you rescue one another? I have never heard of affairs that did not take antiquity as their teacher yet were able to last long. Now Qingchen also flatters to your face to increase Your Majesty's errors—he is not a loyal minister.' The First Emperor sent down their discussion. Chancellor Li Si said, 'The Five Emperors did not repeat one another, and the Three Dynasties did not follow one another. Each governed according to its own way. It was not that they deliberately opposed one another; the times had changed and become different. Now Your Majesty has created a great enterprise and established merit for ten thousand generations. Foolish scholars certainly cannot understand this. Moreover, Yue's words are matters of the Three Dynasties—what is sufficient to model after? In other times, the feudal lords contended with one another and generously recruited wandering scholars. Now the world is already settled, and laws and commands issue from a single source. When common people are at home, they devote themselves to farming and labor; scholars should study the laws and prohibitions. Now these scholars do not take the present as their teacher but study antiquity in order to criticize the current age and confuse and disorder the commoners. Chancellor Minister Si, risking death, speaks: In ancient times the world was scattered and chaotic, none could unify it. Therefore, the feudal lords arose together; their words all spoke of the ancient to harm the present, adorned empty words to disorder reality. People favored their private studies to oppose what their superiors had established. Now the Emperor has united and possesses the world, distinguishing black from white and establishing one supreme authority. Private schools join together in unlawful teachings. When people hear commands issued, each uses his own learning to criticize them. At court their hearts reject them; outside, they debate them in the lanes. They boast of their masters to make a name for themselves, prize divergent views as lofty, and lead the masses below into slander. If this is not prohibited, the ruler’s power will decline above, and factions and alliances will form below. Prohibiting it is convenient. I request that the court historians burn all records that are not Qin records. Except for those held by the scholar officials, anyone under heaven who dares to hide the Odes, the Documents, or the sayings of the Hundred Schools shall bring them to the commandery governor or commandant, who will burn them together. Those who dare to discuss the Odes and Documents in pairs shall be executed and exposed in the marketplace. Those who use antiquity to oppose the present shall have their clans exterminated. Officials who see and know of this but do not report it shall share the same crime. If anyone fails to burn the prohibited books within thirty days after the command is issued, tattoo him and sentence him to hard labor as a wall-builder. Those not to be removed are books of medicine, divination, and planting trees. If they desire to study laws and commands, take officials as teachers.' The decree said, 'Approved.'
39
三十五年，除道，道九原抵雲陽，塹山堙谷，直通之。 於是始皇以為咸陽人多，先王之宮廷小，吾聞周文王都豐，武王都鎬，豐鎬之閒，帝王之都也。 乃營作朝宮渭南上林苑中。 先作前殿阿房，東西五百步，南北五十丈，上可以坐萬人，下可以建五丈旗。 周馳為閣道，自殿下直抵南山。 表南山之顛以為闕。 為復道，自阿房渡渭，屬之咸陽，以象天極閣道絕漢抵營室也。 阿房宮未成； 成，欲更擇令名名之。 作宮阿房，故天下謂之阿房宮。 隱宮徒刑者七十餘萬人，乃分作阿房宮，或作麗山。 發北山石槨，乃寫蜀、荊地材皆至。 關中計宮三百，關外四百餘。 於是立石東海上朐界中，以為秦東門。 因徙三萬家麗邑，五萬家雲陽，皆復不事十歲。
In the thirty-fifth year, roads were cleared. A road was built from Jiuyuan to Yunyang, cutting through mountains and filling valleys to make a direct route. The First Emperor then considered that Xianyang was crowded and that the palaces and courts of the former kings were too small. He said, 'I have heard that King Wen of Zhou made Feng his capital and King Wu made Hao his capital. The area between Feng and Hao is the seat of emperors and kings.' He then planned and built an audience palace in Shanglin Park, south of the Wei. First he built the front hall of Epang, five hundred paces from east to west and fifty zhang from north to south. Its upper level could seat ten thousand people, and below it banners five zhang high could be raised. He built covered galleries running around it, extending straight from below the hall to the southern mountain. He marked the summit of the southern mountain as a palace watchtower. He built an elevated passage from Epang across the Wei to connect with Xianyang, imitating the celestial gallery by the pole star that crosses the Milky Way and reaches Yingshi. The Epang Palace was not completed; When it was completed, he wished to choose an auspicious name for it. Because the palace was built at Epang, the world called it the Epang Palace. More than seven hundred thousand convict laborers from the hidden palace were assigned in groups, some to build the Epang Palace and others to work at Lishan. He quarried stone for outer coffins from the northern mountains, and timber from Shu and Jing was all transported there. In Guanzhong, the palaces numbered three hundred; outside the passes, there were more than four hundred. He then erected a stone on the eastern sea within the borders of Shangqu to serve as Qin’s eastern gate. He then moved thirty thousand households to Liyi and fifty thousand to Yunyang, exempting all of them from service for ten years.
40
盧生說始皇曰：「臣等求芝奇藥僊者常弗遇，類物有害之者。 方中，人主時為微行以辟惡鬼，惡鬼辟，真人至。 人主所居而人臣知之，則害於神。 真人者，入水不濡，入火不爇，陵雲氣，與天地久長。 今上治天下，未能恬倓。 願上所居宮毋令人知，然後不死之藥殆可得也。」 於是始皇曰：「吾慕真人，自謂『真人』，不稱『朕』。」 乃令咸陽之旁二百里內宮觀二百七十復道甬道相連，帷帳鐘鼓美人充之，各案署不移徙。 行所幸，有言其處者，罪死。 始皇帝幸梁山宮，從山上見丞相車騎眾，弗善也。 中人或告丞相，丞相後損車騎。 始皇怒曰：「此中人泄吾語。」 案問莫服。 當是時，詔捕諸時在旁者，皆殺之。 自是後莫知行之所在。 聽事，群臣受決事，悉於咸陽宮。
Lu Sheng persuaded the First Emperor, saying, 'We ministers seek lingzhi, rare medicines, and immortals, but often do not encounter them. There seem to be things that obstruct them. At times, the ruler of men must make secret journeys to avoid evil spirits. When evil spirits withdraw, true men arrive. If the ruler’s dwelling place is known by his ministers, then it harms his spiritual power. True men enter water without getting wet, enter fire without being burned, tread on cloudlike qi, and endure as long as heaven and earth. Now His Majesty governs the world but has not yet attained tranquil stillness. I wish that no one be allowed to know which palace His Majesty occupies; only then can the medicine of immortality perhaps be obtained.' The First Emperor then said, 'I admire true people. I call myself "True Person," not "I."' He then ordered that within two hundred li around Xianyang, two hundred seventy palace buildings be connected by covered walkways and walled corridors, filled with curtains, canopies, bells, drums, and beauties, each assigned to its post and not moved elsewhere. If anyone spoke of where he traveled or which place he favored, the punishment was death. The First Emperor favored the Liangshan Palace. From the mountain top he saw that the chancellor’s chariots and cavalry were numerous, and this displeased him. Someone from the inner palace told the chancellor; afterward, the chancellor reduced the number of his chariots and cavalry. The First Emperor was angered and said, 'This inner person leaked my words.' He investigated and questioned, but none confessed. At that time, by edict, he arrested all those who had been at his side and killed them all. From this time on, no one knew where he was traveling. He heard affairs of state at Xianyang Palace, and the ministers received decisions on completed matters there.
41
侯生盧生相與謀曰：「始皇為人，天性剛戾自用，起諸侯，并天下，意得欲從，以為自古莫及己。 專任獄吏，獄吏得親幸。 博士雖七十人，特備員弗用。 丞相諸大臣皆受成事，倚辨於上。 上樂以刑殺為威，天下畏罪持祿，莫敢盡忠。 上不聞過而日驕，下懾伏謾欺以取容。 秦法，不得兼方不驗，輒死。 然候星氣者至三百人，皆良士，畏忌諱諛，不敢端言其過。 天下之事無小大皆決於上，上至以衡石量書，日夜有呈，不中呈不得休息。 貪於權勢至如此，未可為求僊藥。」 於是乃亡去。 始皇聞亡，乃大怒曰：「吾前收天下書不中用者盡去之。 悉召文學方術士甚眾，欲以興太平，方士欲練以求奇藥。 今聞韓眾去不報，徐市等費以巨萬計，終不得藥，徒姦利相告日聞。 盧生等吾尊賜之甚厚，今乃誹謗我，以重吾不德也。 諸生在咸陽者，吾使人廉問，或為訞言以亂黔首。」 於是使御史悉案問諸生，諸生傳相告引，乃自除犯禁者四百六十餘人，皆阬之咸陽，使天下知之，以懲後。 益發謫徙邊。 始皇長子扶蘇諫曰：「天下初定，遠方黔首未集，諸生皆誦法孔子，今上皆重法繩之，臣恐天下不安。 唯上察之。」 始皇怒，使扶蘇北監蒙恬於上郡。
Hou Sheng and Lu Sheng plotted together, saying, 'The First Emperor is by nature firm, fierce, and self-willed. He rose from among the feudal lords, united the world, obtained his aims and fulfilled his desires, and now thinks that no one from antiquity onward has equaled him. He relies exclusively on prison officials, and the prison officials enjoy his intimate favor. Although there are seventy erudites, they are merely kept as nominal officials and are not used. The chancellor and the ministers merely receive completed decisions and depend on Your Majesty while disputing them. Your Majesty takes pleasure in punishment and killing as displays of power; the world fears punishment and clings to office, and no one dares exhaust his loyalty. His Majesty does not hear of his faults and grows more arrogant by the day; those below him are terrified and submissive, deceiving him falsely in order to win favor. Under Qin law, one who combines unverified prescriptions is put to death. As for those who observe the stars and vapors, they number as many as three hundred, and all are good scholars. Yet they fear taboos, flatter him, and do not dare speak directly of his faults. Affairs of the world, great and small, are all decided by His Majesty. His Majesty even weighs documents by the stone on a balance; day and night there are submissions, and if the quota is not met, he cannot rest. He is greedy for power and influence to such an extent that no immortal medicine can be sought for him.' They then fled. The First Emperor heard that they had fled and was greatly angered, saying, “Previously I collected the books of the world that were of no use and removed them all. He summoned very many literary scholars and masters of techniques, wishing through them to bring about great peace. The masters of techniques wished to refine substances in search of rare medicines. Now I hear that Han Zhong has gone away without reporting back, and Xu Shi and others have spent tens of thousands, yet in the end obtained no medicine; only reports of their fraud and profiteering reach me day after day. As for Lu Sheng and the others, I honored them and bestowed gifts on them very generously. Now they slander me in order to add to my lack of virtue. As for the scholars in Xianyang, I had people investigate them, and some spoke slanderous words to disorder the common people.” He then ordered the imperial secretary to investigate and question the scholars thoroughly. The scholars informed on one another, and more than four hundred sixty who had violated the prohibitions were all buried alive at Xianyang, so that the world would know and take warning. He also sent banished men and transported convicts to the border. The First Emperor’s eldest son Fusu remonstrated, saying, “The world has only just been settled, and the common people in distant places have not yet gathered in submission. The scholars all recite and model themselves on Confucius. Now Your Majesty uses heavy laws to restrain them all. I fear the world will become unsettled. May Your Majesty alone examine this.” The First Emperor was angered and had Fusu go north to oversee Meng Tian at Shang commandery.
42
三十六年，熒惑守心。 有墜星下東郡，至地為石，黔首或刻其石曰「始皇帝死而地分」。 始皇聞之，遣御史逐問，莫服，盡取石旁居人誅之，因燔銷其石。 始皇不樂，使博士為僊真人詩，及行所游天下，傳令樂人歌弦之。 秋，使者從關東夜過華陰平舒道，有人持璧遮使者曰：「為吾遺滈池君。」 因言曰：「今年祖龍死。」 使者問其故，因忽不見，置其璧去。 使者奉璧具以聞。 始皇默然良久，曰：「山鬼固不過知一歲事也。」 退言曰：「祖龍者，人之先也。」 使御府視璧，乃二十八年行渡江所沈璧也。 於是始皇卜之，卦得游徙吉。 遷北河榆中三萬家。 拜爵一級。
In the thirty-sixth year, Yinghuo lingered in the Heart mansion. There was a falling star that descended in Dong Commandery, reached the earth, and became a stone. Someone among the common people carved on the stone, 'The First Emperor dies, and the earth is divided.' The First Emperor heard of it and sent the imperial secretary to pursue and question the suspects. None confessed, so he arrested and executed everyone living beside the stone, then burned and melted the stone. The First Emperor was not happy. He had the scholars compose immortal true person poems, and wherever he traveled and toured the world, he transmitted commands to musicians to sing and string them. In autumn, an envoy from east of the pass, at night passed the Huayin Pingshu road. Someone holding a jade disk blocked the envoy and said, 'For me, leave it to the Fen Pool jun.' He then said, 'This year the ancestral dragon dies.' The envoy asked the reason, but the man suddenly vanished. He left the jade disk behind and departed. The envoy presented the jade disk and reported the whole affair. The First Emperor was silent for a long time, then said, 'Mountain ghosts certainly do not exceed knowing one year's matters.' He retired and spoke, saying, 'Ancestral dragons are people's ancestors.' He had the imperial storehouse examine the jade disk; it was the jade disk sunk when traveling and crossing the Jiang in the twenty-eighth year. The First Emperor then divined about it, and the hexagram indicated that travel and relocation would be auspicious. He relocated thirty thousand households north of the river to Yuzhong. He conferred nobility one level.
43
三十七年十月癸丑，始皇出游。 左丞相斯從，右丞相去疾守。 少子胡亥愛慕請從，上許之。 十一月，行至雲夢，望祀虞舜於九疑山。 浮江下，觀籍柯，渡海渚。 過丹陽，至錢唐。 臨浙江，水波惡，乃西百二十里從狹中渡。 上會稽，祭大禹，望于南海，而立石刻頌秦德。 其文曰：
In the thirty-seventh year, in the tenth month on the guichou day, the First Emperor went out on tour. Left Chancellor Li Si accompanied him; Right Chancellor Feng Quji remained to guard the capital. His youngest son Huhai, who loved and admired him, requested permission to accompany him. His Majesty allowed it. In the eleventh month, he traveled to Yunmeng and performed a distant sacrifice to Yu Shun at Mount Jiuyi. He floated down the Jiang, inspected Jike, and crossed Haizhu. He passed Danyang and reached Qiantang. He reached the Zhejiang, but the waves were dangerous, so he went one hundred twenty li west and crossed at a narrower point. He ascended Kuaiji, sacrificed to Great Yu, gazed toward the Southern Sea, and erected a stone inscription praising Qin's virtue. Its text said:
44
皇帝休烈，平一宇內，德惠修長。 三十有七年，親巡天下，周覽遠方。 遂登會稽，宣省習俗，黔首齋莊。 群臣誦功，本原事跡，追首高明。 秦聖臨國，始定刑名，顯陳舊章。 初平法式，審別職任，以立恒常。 六王專倍，貪戾傲猛，率眾自彊。 暴虐恣行，負力而驕，數動甲兵。 陰通閒使，以事合從，行為辟方。 內飾詐謀，外來侵邊，遂起禍殃。 義威誅之，殄熄暴悖，亂賊滅亡。 聖德廣密，六合之中，被澤無疆。 皇帝并宇，兼聽萬事，遠近畢清。 運理群物，考驗事實，各載其名。 貴賤并通，善否陳前，靡有隱情。 飾省宣義，有子而嫁，倍死不貞。 防隔內外，禁止淫泆，男女絜誠。 夫為寄豭，殺之無罪，男秉義程。 妻為逃嫁，子不得母，咸化廉清。 大治濯俗，天下承風，蒙被休經。 皆遵度軌，和安敦勉，莫不順令。 黔首修絜，人樂同則，嘉保太平。 後敬奉法，常治無極，輿舟不傾。 從臣誦烈，請刻此石，光垂休銘。
The Emperor's glorious achievements pacified and unified the realm; his virtue and benevolence extend far into the future. In the thirty-seventh year, he personally toured the world, surveying distant regions on every side. He then ascended Kuaiji, proclaimed and inspected customs and habits; the commoners are fasting and solemn. The ministers recited his merit, traced the origins of his deeds, and looked back to honor his lofty brilliance. The sage of Qin ruled the state, first fixed punishments and titles, and clearly set forth the old statutes. At the beginning he made laws and institutions uniform, carefully distinguished official responsibilities, and established enduring norms. The six kings were autocratic and rebellious, greedy, violent, arrogant, and fierce; they led their multitudes and strengthened themselves. Violent and cruel, acting without restraint, they relied on strength, grew arrogant, and repeatedly set armored troops in motion. They secretly communicated with envoys traveling between the states, used political affairs to form vertical alliances, and acted in perverse ways. Within, they embellished deceitful schemes; without, they came to invade the borders, and calamity followed. With righteous might he punished them, extinguishing the violent and perverse, so that rebels and traitors were destroyed. His sagely virtue is broad and all-encompassing; throughout the six directions, all are covered by boundless favor. The Emperor united the realm and gave full hearing to all affairs; distant and near alike were made clear. He ordered and governed all things, examined facts and affairs, and recorded each under its proper name. Noble and base alike had access to him; good and bad were laid before him, and nothing remained hidden. He corrected customs and proclaimed righteousness: a woman who had borne children and remarried betrayed the dead and was unchaste. He guarded the separation of inner and outer, prohibited licentiousness and excess, and made men and women pure and sincere. If a husband behaved like a stud boar kept for another, killing him was no crime; men upheld the measure of righteousness. Wives had run away and remarried, and sons could not recognize their mothers; all were transformed toward integrity and purity. Great governance cleansed the customs; the world received its influence and was covered by its excellent norms. All followed the measures and tracks; they were harmonious, peaceful, sincere, and encouraged, and all obeyed commands. The commoners cultivated purity; people were happy with the same standards; praised and preserved great peace. Later generations would respectfully uphold the laws; the ordered rule would endure without limit, and carriages and boats would not overturn. The attendant ministers recited his achievements and requested that this stone be carved, so its splendid inscription might shine for later ages.
45
還過吳，從江乘渡。 并海上，北至瑯邪。 方士徐市等入海求神藥，數歲不得，費多，恐譴，乃詐曰：「蓬萊藥可得，然常為大鮫魚所苦，故不得至，願請善射與俱，見則以連弩射之。」 始皇夢與海神戰，如人狀。 問占夢，博士曰：「水神不可見，以大魚蛟龍為候。 今上禱祠備謹，而有此惡神，當除去，而善神可致。」 乃令入海者齎捕巨魚具，而自以連弩候大魚出射之。 自瑯邪北至榮成山，弗見。 至之罘，見巨魚，射殺一魚。 遂并海西。
On the return journey, he passed Wu and crossed from Jiangcheng. Along the seaside, north to Langye. The fangshi Xu Shi and the others went out to sea seeking divine medicines, but after several years they had found nothing and the expenses were enormous. Fearing punishment, they lied and said, 'The medicines of Penglai are within reach, but we are often hindered by great jiao fish and cannot reach the island. We ask that skilled archers accompany us; when the fish appear, they can be shot with repeating crossbows.' The First Emperor dreamed that he fought with the sea god, who appeared in human form. He asked to interpret the dream. The scholars said, 'Water gods cannot be seen; they use great fish, jiao, and dragons as signs. Now His Majesty has prayed and sacrificed with prepared respectfulness, yet there is this evil spirit. It should be removed, and good spirits can be brought.' He then ordered those who entered the sea to carry tools for capturing giant fish, and himself with a linked crossbow waited for great fish to appear and shot them. From Langye north to Mount Rongcheng, nothing was found. He reached Zhifu, saw giant fish, and shot one of them dead. He then followed the coast westward.
46
至平原津而病。 始皇惡言死，群臣莫敢言死事。 上病益甚，乃為璽書賜公子扶蘇曰：「與喪會咸陽而葬。」 書已封，在中車府令趙高行符璽事所，未授使者。 七月丙寅，始皇崩於沙丘平臺。 丞相斯為上崩在外，恐諸公子及天下有變，乃祕之，不發喪。 棺載轀涼車中，故幸宦者參乘，所至上食。 百官奏事如故，宦者輒從轀涼車中可其奏事。 獨子胡亥、趙高及所幸宦者五六人知上死。 趙高故嘗教胡亥書及獄律令法事，胡亥私幸之。 高乃與公子胡亥、丞相斯陰謀破去始皇所封書賜公子扶蘇者，而更詐為丞相斯受始皇遺詔沙丘，立子胡亥為太子。 更為書賜公子扶蘇、蒙恬，數以罪，（其）賜死。 語具在李斯傳中。 行，遂從井陘抵九原。 會暑，上轀車臭，乃詔從官令車載一石鮑魚，以亂其臭。
He reached Pingyuan Ford and became ill. The First Emperor hated speaking of death; none of the ministers dared speak of death matters. His Majesty's illness became increasingly severe. He then made a sealed letter granting to Prince Fusu, saying, 'Meet with the mourning at Xianyang and bury.' The letter had already been sealed, but it was still with Zhao Gao, Chief of the Palace Carriage Office, who managed the tallies and seals, and had not yet been handed to the envoy. In the seventh month, Bingyin day, the First Emperor died at the Shaqiu terrace platform. Chancellor Li Si, because His Majesty had died while away from the capital, feared that the princes and the world might change course. He therefore kept it secret and did not announce the mourning. The coffin was loaded into the temperature-controlled hearse, and favored eunuchs rode with it. Wherever they arrived, meals were presented as usual. The officials submitted memorials as before, and the eunuchs approved those memorials from inside the hearse. Only his son Huhai, Zhao Gao, and five or six favored eunuchs knew that His Majesty had died. Zhao Gao had previously taught Huhai writing, prison statutes, ordinances, and legal affairs, and Huhai privately favored him. Gao then secretly plotted with Prince Huhai and Chancellor Si to destroy the sealed letter the First Emperor had written to Prince Fusu. They then forged a testamentary edict, claiming that Chancellor Si had received it from the First Emperor at Shaqiu, and established Huhai as crown prince. He also drafted a letter to Prince Fusu and Meng Tian, enumerating their crimes and ordering them to die. The full text appears in the biography of Li Si. They traveled, then from Jingxing reached Jiuyuan. They met summer; His Majesty's hearse carriage stank. He then ordered the attendant officials to command the carriages to load one shi of dried fish, to mask its stench.
47
行從直道至咸陽，發喪。 太子胡亥襲位，為二世皇帝。 九月，葬始皇酈山。 始皇初即位，穿治酈山，及并天下，天下徒送詣七十餘萬人，穿三泉，下銅而致槨，宮觀百官奇器珍怪徙臧滿之。 令匠作機弩矢，有所穿近者輒射之。 以水銀為百川江河大海，機相灌輸，上具天文，下具地理。 以人魚膏為燭，度不滅者久之。 二世曰：「先帝後宮非有子者，出焉不宜。」 皆令從死，死者甚眾。 葬既已下，或言工匠為機，臧皆知之，臧重即泄。 大事畢，已臧，閉中羨，下外羨門，盡閉工匠臧者，無復出者。 樹草木以象山。
They traveled by the Straight Road to Xianyang and announced the mourning. Crown Prince Huhai ascended the throne and became the Second Generation Emperor. In the ninth month, the First Emperor was buried at Lishan. When the First Emperor first ascended the throne, he began excavating and preparing Lishan. After he united the world, more than seven hundred thousand convicts from across the realm were sent there. They dug down to the three springs, poured in bronze, and brought in the outer coffin. Palaces, viewing towers, strange vessels for the hundred officials, precious objects, and rarities were moved in and stored there until the tomb was filled. He ordered artisans to make mechanically triggered crossbows, so that anyone who approached the passages would be shot. He used mercury to model the hundred streams, the Yangtze, the rivers, and the great seas, with mechanisms that fed into one another. Above were celestial patterns; below were earthly forms. He used candles made from mermaid fat, and they burned for an exceptionally long time. The Second Emperor said, 'It is not fitting to send out the women of the First Emperor's rear palace who have no sons.' They were all ordered to follow him in death, and the number who died was very great. When the tomb chamber had been lowered, some said the artisans had installed a mechanism inside, and the buried treasures were all in on it; once they grew heavy, they would seep out. Once the great work was finished and everything stored away, the inner passages were sealed, the outer gates lowered, and all the artisans and keepers were shut in, never to come out again. Grass and trees were planted to make it resemble mountains.
48
二世皇帝元年，年二十一。 趙高為郎中令，任用事。 二世下詔，增始皇寢廟犧牲及山川百祀之禮。 令群臣議尊始皇廟。 群臣皆頓首言曰：「古者天子七廟，諸侯五，大夫三，雖萬世世不軼毀。 今始皇為極廟，四海之內皆獻貢職，增犧牲，禮咸備，毋以加。 先王廟或在西雍，或在咸陽。 天子儀當獨奉酌祠始皇廟。 自襄公已下軼毀。 所置凡七廟。 群臣以禮進祠，以尊始皇廟為帝者祖廟。 皇帝復自稱『朕』。」
In the Second Emperor’s first year, he was twenty-one years old. Zhao Gao served as Chamberlain for Attendants and was responsible for handling affairs. The Second Emperor issued an edict increasing the sacrifices at the First Emperor’s resting temples and expanding the hundred rites for mountains and rivers. He commanded the ministers to discuss how to honor the First Emperor’s temple. The ministers all kowtowed and said, 'In ancient times, the Son of Heaven had seven temples, feudal lords had five, and grandees had three; even after ten thousand generations, they were not displaced or destroyed. Now the First Emperor’s temple is the ultimate temple. Within the four seas, all offer tribute and service; the sacrifices have been increased, and the rites are fully prepared, so nothing can be added. The temples of the former kings are either in West Yong or in Xianyang. The rites of the Son of Heaven should be performed exclusively in offering libations and sacrifices at the First Emperor's temple. From Duke Xiang downward, the number has exceeded what should be maintained. What has been established totals seven temples. The ministers advanced the sacrifices according to ritual, honoring the First Emperor's temple as the ancestral temple of emperors. The emperor again used the imperial first-person pronoun."
49
二世與趙高謀曰：「朕年少，初即位，黔首未集附。 先帝巡行郡縣，以示彊，威服海內。 今晏然不巡行，即見弱，毋以臣畜天下。」 春，二世東行郡縣，李斯從。 到碣石，并海，南至會稽，而盡刻始皇所立刻石，石旁著大臣從者名，以章先帝成功盛德焉：
The Second Emperor plotted with Zhao Gao, saying, 'I am young and have just ascended the position; the common people have not yet gathered and attached. The First Emperor toured the commanderies and counties to display his strength and overawe all within the seas into submission. Now if I remain at ease and do not tour the realm, I will appear weak and have no way to make the world serve and obey me.' In spring, the Second Emperor traveled east through the commanderies and counties, accompanied by Li Si. He reached Jieshi, traveled along the coast to Kuaiji, and carved the same inscriptions the First Emperor had left on the stones, with the names of the ministers and attendants inscribed beside them, to display the First Emperor's achievements and great virtue:
50
皇帝曰：「金石刻盡始皇帝所為也。 今襲號而金石刻辭不稱始皇帝，其於久遠也如後嗣為之者，不稱成功盛德。」 丞相臣斯、臣去疾、御史大夫臣德昧死言：「臣請具刻詔書刻石，因明白矣。 臣昧死請。」 制曰：「可。」
The emperor said, 'The metal and stone carvings are all what the First Emperor did. Now I have inherited the title. If the carved words on metal and stone do not call him the First Emperor, then in the distant future it will appear as though later descendants made them, and they will not proclaim his success and flourishing virtue.' The Chancellor, Minister Si, Minister Qu Ji, and the Grand Master of the Imperial Secretariat, Minister De, risking death, said: 'Your ministers request that the edict be carved in full on the stone, Let this be made clear.' The imperial decision said, 'Approved.'
51
遂至遼東而還。
He then reached Liaodong and returned.
52
於是二世乃遵用趙高，申法令。 乃陰與趙高謀曰：「大臣不服，官吏尚彊，及諸公子必與我爭，為之柰何？」 高曰：「臣固願言而未敢也。 先帝之大臣，皆天下累世名貴人也，積功勞世以相傳久矣。 今高素小賤，陛下幸稱舉，令在上位，管中事。 大臣鞅鞅，特以貌從臣，其心實不服。 今上出，不因此時案郡縣守尉有罪者誅之，上以振威天下，下以除去上生平所不可者。 今時不師文而決於武力，願陛下遂從時毋疑，即群臣不及謀。 明主收舉餘民，賤者貴之，貧者富之，遠者近之，則上下集而國安矣。」 二世曰：「善。」 乃行誅大臣及諸公子，以罪過連逮少近官三郎，無得立者，而六公子戮死於杜。 公子將閭昆弟三人囚於內宮，議其罪獨後。 二世使使令將閭曰：「公子不臣，罪當死，吏致法焉。」 將閭曰：「闕廷之禮，吾未嘗敢不從賓贊也； 廊廟之位，吾未嘗敢失節也； 受命應對，吾未嘗敢失辭也。 何謂不臣？ 願聞罪而死。」 使者曰：「臣不得與謀，奉書從事。」 將閭乃仰天大呼天者三，曰：「天乎！ 吾無罪！」 昆弟三人皆流涕拔劍自殺。 宗室振恐。 群臣諫者以為誹謗，大吏持祿取容，黔首振恐。
The Second Emperor then followed Zhao Gao's advice and tightened the laws and ordinances. He then secretly plotted with Zhao Gao, saying, 'The ministers do not submit, the officials are still strong, and the princes will certainly contend with me—what should I do?' Gao said, 'Your minister certainly wished to speak but did not dare. The First Emperor's ministers are all men from famous and noble families of long-standing rank, whose accumulated merits have been handed down for generations. Now I, Gao, was originally humble and lowly, yet Your Majesty graciously promoted me, placed me in a high position, and entrusted me with affairs inside the palace. The ministers are resentful, following your minister only in appearance; in their hearts, they do not truly submit. Now that Your Majesty is traveling, do not miss this chance to investigate and execute the governors and commandants of the commanderies and counties who have committed crimes, to display your power throughout the world and remove those whom Your Majesty has long disliked. Now is a time not to follow civil models but to decide matters by military force. I hope Your Majesty will follow the times without hesitation, so that the ministers will have no chance to plot. Bright lords collect and raise the remaining people, making the lowly noble, the poor rich, the distant near—then upper and lower gather and the state is peaceful.' The Second Emperor said, 'Good.' He then executed ministers and princes, implicating and arresting even minor officials close to the Three Lords, so that none could remain in office. Six princes were put to death at Du. Prince Jianglü and his three brothers were imprisoned in the inner palace; discussion of their crimes was put off until later. The Second Emperor sent an envoy to command Jianglü, saying, 'The prince has failed in his duty as a subject. His crime deserves death; the officials will apply the law.' Jianglü said, 'In the palace courtyards, I never dared fail in the rites of a guest; In the hall and temple positions, I never dared lose integrity; In receiving commands and answering them, I never dared fail in my words. What is called not ministering? I wish to hear the crime and die.' The envoy said, 'Your servant was not party to the plot. I received the letter and carried out my assignment.' Jianglü then looked up to heaven and cried out three times, saying, 'Heaven! I have no crime!' The three brothers all shed tears, drew their swords, and committed suicide. The imperial clan shook with fear. Ministers who remonstrated were treated as slanderers; high officials clung to their salaries and sought favor; the common people trembled in fear.
53
四月，二世還至咸陽，曰：「先帝為咸陽朝廷小，故營阿房宮為室堂。 未就，會上崩，罷其作者，復土酈山。 酈山事大畢，今釋阿房宮弗就，則是章先帝舉事過也。」 復作阿房宮。 外撫四夷，如始皇計。 盡徵其材士五萬人為屯衛咸陽，令教射狗馬禽獸。 當食者多，度不足，下調郡縣轉輸菽粟芻稿，皆令自齎糧食，咸陽三百里內不得食其穀。 用法益刻深。
In the fourth month, the Second Emperor returned to Xianyang and said, 'Because the Xianyang court was small, the First Emperor built the Epang Palace as a hall and chamber. It was not completed when His Majesty died; its workers were dismissed, and the soil returned to Mount Li. The work at Mount Li is largely complete. Now to abandon the Epang Palace before finishing it would display the First Emperor's undertaking as a mistake.' He again made the Epang Palace. Externally, he pacified the four barbarians, following the First Emperor’s plan. He conscripted fifty thousand of their able men to serve as garrison guards at Xianyang and ordered them to train in shooting dogs, horses, birds, and beasts. There were many mouths to feed, and the supplies were insufficient. He issued requisitions to the commanderies and counties to transport beans, millet, hay, and straw. All were ordered to carry their own provisions, and within three hundred li of Xianyang they were not allowed to eat from the transported grain. He applied the laws with increasing harshness and severity.
54
七月，戍卒陳勝等反故荊地，為「張楚」。 勝自立為楚王，居陳，遣諸將徇地。 山東郡縣少年苦秦吏，皆殺其守尉令丞反，以應陳涉，相立為侯王，合從西鄉，名為伐秦，不可勝數也。 謁者使東方來，以反者聞二世。 二世怒，下吏。 後使者至，上問，對曰：「群盜，郡守尉方逐捕，今盡得，不足憂。」 上悅。 武臣自立為趙王，魏咎為魏王，田儋為齊王。 沛公起沛。 項梁舉兵會稽郡。
In the seventh month, the garrisoned soldiers Chen Sheng and others rebelled in the old Jing lands, making 'Zhang Chu'. Chen Sheng established himself as King of Chu, resided in Chen, and dispatched his generals to seize the surrounding lands. The youths of the commanderies and counties east of the mountains suffered under Qin officials; all killed their defenders, commandants, chiefs, and magistrates and rebelled to respond to Chen She. They set one another up as marquises and kings, joined in a vertical alliance facing west, and called it an attack on Qin; they were beyond counting. An envoy from the court came from the east and reported the rebellion to the Second Emperor. The Second Emperor was angered and handed him over to the officials. A later envoy arrived; His Majesty asked about the matter, and he replied, 'The bandits are only being pursued and captured by the commandery governors and commandants. They have now all been taken. They are not worth worrying about.' His Majesty was pleased. Wu Chen established himself as king of Zhao, Wei Jiu as king of Wei, and Tian Dan as king of Qi. Duke Pei rose in Pei. Xiang Liang raised troops in Kuaiji Commandery.
55
二年冬，陳涉所遣周章等將西至戲，兵數十萬。 二世大驚，與群臣謀曰：「柰何？」 少府章邯曰：「盜已至，眾彊，今發近縣不及矣。 酈山徒多，請赦之，授兵以擊之。」 二世乃大赦天下，使章邯將，擊破周章軍而走，遂殺章曹陽。 二世益遣長史司馬欣、董翳佐章邯擊盜，殺陳勝城父，破項梁定陶，滅魏咎臨濟。 楚地盜名將已死，章邯乃北渡河，擊趙王歇等於鉅鹿。
In the winter of the second year, the generals Zhou Zhang and others, whom Chen She had dispatched, marched west to Xi with troops numbering several tens of thousands. The Second Emperor was greatly startled and plotted with the ministers, saying, 'What should we do?' The Minor Treasurer Zhang Han said, 'The robbers have already arrived; their multitude is strong. Now dispatching the near counties will not be in time. The Mount Li convicts are many; please pardon them and give them weapons to strike the robbers.' The Second Emperor then issued a general amnesty, made Zhang Han general, attacked and defeated Zhou Zhang's army, drove it into flight, and then killed Zhang at Caoyang. The Second Emperor also dispatched Chief Clerk Sima Xin and Dong Yi to assist Zhang Han in striking the rebels. They killed Chen Sheng at Chengfu, defeated Xiang Liang at Dingtao, and destroyed Wei Jiu at Linji. The famous rebel generals of Chu had already died. Zhang Han then crossed the Yellow River northward and struck King Xie of Zhao and the others at Julu.
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趙高說二世曰：「先帝臨制天下久，故群臣不敢為非，進邪說。 今陛下富於春秋，初即位，柰何與公卿廷決事？ 事即有誤，示群臣短也。 天子稱朕，固不聞聲。」 於是二世常居禁中，與高決諸事。 其後公卿希得朝見，盜賊益多，而關中卒發東擊盜者毋已。 右丞相去疾、左丞相斯、將軍馮劫進諫曰：「關東群盜并起，秦發兵誅擊，所殺亡甚眾，然猶不止。 盜多，皆以戌漕轉作事苦，賦稅大也。 請且止阿房宮作者，減省四邊戍轉。」 二世曰：「吾聞之韓子曰：『堯舜采椽不刮，茅茨不翦，飯土塯，啜土形，雖監門之養，不觳於此。 禹鑿龍門，通大夏，決河亭水，放之海，身自持筑臿，脛毋毛，臣虜之勞不烈於此矣。』 凡所為貴有天下者，得肆意極欲，主重明法，下不敢為非，以制御海內矣。 夫虞、夏之主，貴為天子，親處窮苦之實，以徇百姓，尚何於法？ 朕尊萬乘，毋其實，吾欲造千乘之駕，萬乘之屬，充吾號名。 且先帝起諸侯，兼天下，天下已定，外攘四夷以安邊竟，作宮室以章得意，而君觀先帝功業有緒。 今朕即位二年之閒，群盜并起，君不能禁，又欲罷先帝之所為，是上毋以報先帝，次不為朕盡忠力，何以在位？」 下去疾、斯、劫吏，案責他罪。 去疾、劫曰：「將相不辱。」 自殺。 斯卒囚，就五刑。
Zhao Gao persuaded the Second Emperor, saying, 'The First Emperor controlled and ruled the world for a long time; therefore the ministers did not dare do wrong or advance evil sayings. Now Your Majesty is rich in years, having just ascended the position—what need is there to decide affairs with the nobles in court? If affairs contain errors, they reveal Your Majesty’s shortcomings through the ministers. The Son of Heaven calls himself "I" precisely because his voice is not heard.' The Second Emperor then remained constantly in the forbidden quarters and decided all affairs together with Gao. After this, nobles rarely obtained morning audiences. Rebels and bandits multiplied, and more and more soldiers were dispatched from Guanzhong to strike the rebels in the east. The Right Chancellor Qu Ji, Left Chancellor Si, and General Feng Jie advanced and remonstrated, saying, 'The bandits east of the pass have all risen together. Qin has dispatched troops to execute and strike them; those killed and perished are very many, yet they still do not stop. There are many rebels because the garrison, transport, and labor duties are bitter, and the taxes are heavy. Please temporarily stop the Epang Palace workers and reduce the garrison and transport duties on the four frontiers.' The Second Emperor said, 'I heard Master Han say: "Yao and Shun used thatched rafters not scraped, thatched roofs not trimmed, ate from earthenware bowls, drank from earthenware cups. Though the gatekeeper's nourishment was not different from this. Yu dug Longmen, connected Daxia, decided the Hetting waters and released them to the sea. His body personally held the hoe and spade; his shins had no hair. The labor of ministers and captives was not as intense as this." The whole reason men value possessing the world is that they may give free rein to their intentions and exhaust their desires. A ruler should enforce clear laws with severity, so that those below do not dare do wrong, and by this means control and rule all within the seas. The lords of Yu and Xia, noble as emperors, personally dwelt in the reality of poverty and bitterness to comply with the common people—what more is there regarding laws? I am honored as ruler of ten thousand chariots but lack the substance of it. I wish to make the equipage of a thousand chariots and the retinue of ten thousand chariots match my title and name. Moreover, the First Emperor rose from among the feudal lords and united the world. Once the world was settled, he expelled the four barbarians abroad to pacify the borders, built palaces and lodges to display his success, and made clear his intention for ten thousand generations. Now, within two years of my accession, bandits have risen everywhere. You cannot suppress them, yet you wish to abolish what the First Emperor did. Above, you have no way to repay the First Emperor; next, you do not exhaust your loyal strength for me. Why are you in office?' He handed Quji, Li Si, and Feng Jie over to the officials, who investigated them and accused them of other crimes. Qu Ji and Jie said, 'Generals and chancellors are not humiliated.' They committed suicide. Li Si was eventually imprisoned and subjected to the five punishments.
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三年，章邯等將其卒圍鉅鹿，楚上將軍項羽將楚卒往救鉅鹿。 冬，趙高為丞相，竟案李斯殺之。 夏，章邯等戰數卻，二世使人讓邯，邯恐，使長史欣請事。 趙高弗見，又弗信。 欣恐，亡去，高使人捕追不及。 欣見邯曰：「趙高用事於中，將軍有功亦誅，無功亦誅。」 項羽急擊秦軍，虜王離，邯等遂以兵降諸侯。 八月己亥，趙高欲為亂，恐群臣不聽，乃先設驗，持鹿獻於二世，曰：「馬也。」 二世笑曰：「丞相誤邪？ 謂鹿為馬。」 問左右，左右或默，或言馬以阿順趙高。 或言鹿（者），高因陰中諸言鹿者以法。 後群臣皆畏高。
In the third year, Zhang Han and the others led their soldiers to surround Julu. The Chu Supreme General Xiang Yu led Chu soldiers to rescue Julu. In winter, Zhao Gao became chancellor and finally investigated Li Si and had him killed. In summer, after Zhang Han and the others had suffered several retreats in battle, the Second Emperor sent someone to reproach Zhang Han. Zhang Han grew fearful and had Chief Clerk Sima Xin request instructions. Zhao Gao refused to see him and furthermore did not trust him. Sima Xin became afraid and fled. Gao sent men to pursue and seize him, but they failed to catch him. Xin saw Han and said, 'Zhao Gao controls affairs within; the general will be executed whether he has merit or not.' Xiang Yu struck the Qin army urgently, captured Wang Li, and Zhang Han and the others then surrendered their troops to the feudal lords. On the eighth month Jihai day, Zhao Gao wanted to cause disorder. Fearing the ministers would not listen, he first set a test, held a deer and offered it to the Second Emperor, saying, 'This is a horse.' The Second Emperor laughed and said, 'Is the Chancellor mistaken? He calls a deer a horse.' He asked the attendants; some were silent, while others said it was a horse in order to flatter and follow Zhao Gao. Those who said it was a deer were secretly punished by Gao under the law. Afterward, all the ministers feared Gao.
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高前數言「關東盜毋能為也」，及項羽虜秦將王離等鉅鹿下而前，章邯等軍數卻，上書請益助，燕、趙、齊、楚、韓、魏皆立為王，自關以東，大氐盡畔秦吏應諸侯，諸侯咸率其眾西鄉。 沛公將數萬人已屠武關，使人私於高，高恐二世怒，誅及其身，乃謝病不朝見。 二世夢白虎齧其左驂馬，殺之，心不樂，怪問占夢。 卜曰：「涇水為祟。」 二世乃齋於望夷宮，欲祠涇，沈四白馬。 使使責讓高以盜賊事。 高懼，乃陰與其婿咸陽令閻樂、其弟趙成謀曰：「上不聽諫，今事急，欲歸禍於吾宗。 吾欲易置上，更立公子嬰。 子嬰仁儉，百姓皆載其言。」 使郎中令為內應，詐為有大賊，令樂召吏發卒，追劫樂母置高舍。 遣樂將吏卒千餘人至望夷宮殿門，縛衛令仆射，曰：「賊入此，何不止？」 衛令曰：「周廬設卒甚謹，安得賊敢入宮？」 樂遂斬衛令，直將吏入，行射，郎宦者大驚，或走或格，格者輒死，死者數十人。 郎中令與樂俱入，射上幄坐幃。 二世怒，召左右，左右皆惶擾不鬬。 旁有宦者一人，侍不敢去。 二世入內，謂曰：「公何不蚤告我？ 乃至於此！」 宦者曰：「臣不敢言，故得全。 使臣蚤言，皆已誅，安得至今？」 閻樂前即二世數曰：「足下驕恣，誅殺無道，天下共畔足下，足下其自為計。」 二世曰：「丞相可得見否？」 樂曰：「不可。」 二世曰：「吾願得一郡為王。」 弗許。 又曰：「願為萬戶侯。」 弗許。 曰：「願與妻子為黔首，比諸公子。」 閻樂曰：「臣受命於丞相，為天下誅足下，足下雖多言，臣不敢報。」 麾其兵進。 二世自殺。
Gao had previously said several times, 'The robbers east of the pass can accomplish nothing.' But Xiang Yu captured Qin generals Wang Li and the others below Julu and advanced. Zhang Han and the others retreated several times and submitted memorials requesting additional aid. Yan, Zhao, Qi, Chu, Han, and Wei all established themselves as kings. From the pass eastward, almost everyone rebelled against Qin officials and answered the feudal lords. The feudal lords all led their multitudes and faced west. Duke Pei, leading tens of thousands of people, had already slaughtered Wuguan. He sent someone privately to Gao. Gao feared the Second Emperor would be angered, and that execution would reach him personally, so he pleaded illness and did not attend morning audiences. The Second Emperor dreamed that a white tiger bit the horse at the left of his team. He killed it, but his heart was still uneasy, and he anxiously asked for the dream to be interpreted. The diviner said, 'The Jing River is causing evil.' The Second Emperor then purified himself at Wangyi Palace, intending to sacrifice to the Jing River, and sank four white horses. He sent an envoy to reproach Gao about the rebel and bandit affairs. Gao feared, and then secretly plotted with his son-in-law Yan Le, the Xianyang magistrate, and his younger brother Zhao Cheng, saying, 'His Majesty does not listen to remonstrations. Now affairs are urgent; he wishes to return calamity to my clan. I wish to replace His Majesty and establish Prince Ying instead. Zi Ying is benevolent and frugal; the common people all carry his words.' He made the palace attendant commander serve as an inside agent, falsely claimed there were great bandits, ordered Yan Le to summon officials and dispatch soldiers, and had them pursue the supposed bandits. He dispatched Le to lead more than a thousand officials and soldiers to the gate of the Wangyi Palace hall, bind the guard commander's deputy, and say, 'Robbers entered here. Why were they not stopped?' The guard commander said, 'Soldiers were posted very carefully around the surrounding guard huts. How could robbers have dared enter the palace?' Le then beheaded the guard commander, led the officials straight in, and advanced while shooting. The gentlemen and eunuchs were greatly startled; some fled, and some resisted. Those who resisted were killed, and several tens of people died. The palace attendant commander entered together with Yan Le and shot at His Majesty’s canopy, seat, and curtains. The Second Emperor grew angry and summoned his attendants, but they were all panicked and confused and did not fight. Beside him there was one eunuch attendant who did not dare leave. The Second Emperor entered within and said to him, 'Why did you not early tell me? It has reached to this!' The eunuch said, 'Your minister did not dare speak, and therefore preserved himself. If your minister had spoken earlier, everyone would already have been executed. How could matters have lasted until now?' Yan Le advanced and approached the Second Emperor, reproached and said, 'You are arrogant and unrestrained, execute and kill without way. The world together rebels against you; you should make your own plan.' The Second Emperor said, 'Can the Chancellor be seen?' Le said, 'Not possible.' The Second Emperor said, 'I wish to obtain one commandery to be king.' It was not permitted. He again said, 'I wish to be a marquis of ten thousand households.' It was not permitted. He said, 'I wish to become a commoner together with my wife and children, like the other princes.' Yan Le said, 'Your minister received the chancellor's command to execute you on behalf of the world. Though you have much to say, your minister does not dare report it.' He waved his troops to advance. The Second Emperor committed suicide.
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閻樂歸報趙高，趙高乃悉召諸大臣公子，告以誅二世之狀。 曰：「秦故王國，始皇君天下，故稱帝。 今六國復自立，秦地益小，乃以空名為帝，不可。 宜為王如故，便。」 立二世之兄子公子嬰為秦王。 以黔首葬二世杜南宜春苑中。 令子嬰齋，當廟見，受王璽。 齋五日，子嬰與其子二人謀曰：「丞相高殺二世望夷宮，恐群臣誅之，乃詳以義立我。 我聞趙高乃與楚約，滅秦宗室而王關中。 今使我齋見廟，此欲因廟中殺我。 我稱病不行，丞相必自來，來則殺之。」 高使人請子嬰數輩，子嬰不行，高果自往，曰：「宗廟重事，王柰何不行？」 子嬰遂刺殺高於齋宮，三族高家以徇咸陽。 子嬰為秦王四十六日，楚將沛公破秦軍入武關，遂至霸上，使人約降子嬰。 子嬰即系頸以組，白馬素車，奉天子璽符，降軹道旁。 沛公遂入咸陽，封宮室府庫，還軍霸上。 居月餘，諸侯兵至，項籍為從長，殺子嬰及秦諸公子宗族。 遂屠咸陽，燒其宮室，虜其子女，收其珍寶貨財，諸侯共分之。 滅秦之後，各分其地為三，名曰雍王、塞王、翟王，號曰三秦。 項羽為西楚霸王，主命分天下王諸侯，秦竟滅矣。 後五年，天下定於漢。
Yan Le returned and reported to Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao then summoned all the ministers and princes, and told them the circumstances of the Second Emperor's execution. He said, 'Qin was once a kingdom; when the First Emperor ruled the world, he took the title Emperor. Now the six states have established themselves again, and Qin’s lands grow ever smaller. It is impossible to be emperor with an empty title. It is proper to be king as before; convenient.' They established Prince Ying, the son of the Second Emperor’s elder brother, as King of Qin. They buried the Second Emperor with the rites of a commoner in Yichun Park south of Du. They ordered Ziying to purify himself, appear in the temple, and receive the king’s seal. He purified for five days. Zi Ying plotted with his two sons, saying, 'Chancellor Gao killed the Second Emperor in the Wangyi Palace. Fearing the ministers would execute him, he then pretended with righteousness to establish me. I heard that Zhao Gao then made an agreement with Chu to extinguish the Qin imperial clan and become king in Guanzhong. Now he has me purify myself and appear in the temple; this means he intends to use the temple as the place to kill me. I will claim illness and not go; the chancellor will certainly come himself, and when he comes, we will kill him.' Gao had people invite Ziying several times, but Ziying did not go. Gao then went himself, saying, 'The ancestral temple rites are weighty affairs. Why does the king not go?' Zi Ying then stabbed and killed Gao at the purification palace, three-clanned Gao's family to display in Xianyang. Zi Ying was Qin king for forty-six days, Chu general Pei Gong broke the Qin army and entered Wu Guan, then reached Ba Shang, and sent someone to arrange Zi Ying's surrender. Zi Ying immediately tied his neck with a cord, white horse plain carriage, offered the emperor's seal and talisman, surrendered by the side of Zhi road. Pei Gong then entered Xianyang, sealed the palace chambers, treasuries, and storehouses, and returned his army to Ba Shang. After more than a month, the troops of the feudal lords arrived. Xiang Ji, as leader of the alliance, killed Zi Ying and the Qin princes and clansmen. He then slaughtered Xianyang, burned its palaces, captured its sons and daughters, and seized its precious treasures, goods, and wealth, which the feudal lords divided among themselves. After extinguishing Qin, each divided its land into three, named Yong king, Sai king, Di king, titled the Three Qin. Xiang Yu became the West Chu Overlord King, chiefly commanded the division of the world to enfeoff kings among the feudal lords, and Qin was finally extinguished. Five years later, the world was settled under Han.
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太史公曰：秦之先伯翳，嘗有勳於唐虞之際，受土賜姓。 及殷夏之閒微散。 至周之衰，秦興，邑于西垂。 自繆公以來，稍蠶食諸侯，竟成始皇。 始皇自以為功過五帝，地廣三王，而羞與之侔。 善哉乎賈生推言之也！ 曰：
The Grand Historian says: Qin’s ancestor Boyi rendered service in the age of Tang and Yu, received territory, and was granted a surname. Between the Xia and Yin dynasties, his descendants became weak and scattered. When Zhou declined, Qin rose, establishing its settlement on the western frontier. From Duke Mu onward, Qin gradually gnawed away at the feudal lords until its power culminated in the First Emperor. The First Emperor believed that his achievements surpassed those of the Five Emperors and that his territory was broader than that of the Three Kings, and he was ashamed to be merely compared with them. How well Master Jia explained this! He said:
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秦并兼諸侯山東三十餘郡，繕津關，據險塞，修甲兵而守之。 然陳涉以戍卒散亂之眾數百，奮臂大呼，不用弓戟之兵，鉏櫌白梃，望屋而食，橫行天下。 秦人阻險不守，關梁不闔，長戟不刺，彊弩不射。 楚師深入，戰於鴻門，曾無藩籬之艱。 於是山東大擾，諸侯并起，豪俊相立。 秦使章邯將而東征，章邯因以三軍之眾要市於外，以謀其上。 群臣之不信，可見於此矣。 子嬰立，遂不寤。 藉使子嬰有庸主之材，僅得中佐，山東雖亂，秦之地可全而有，宗廟之祀未當絕也。
Qin annexed the feudal lords and more than thirty commanderies east of the mountains, repaired the fords and passes, occupied the strategic barriers, and maintained armored troops to guard them. Yet Chen She, with only several hundred scattered and disordered garrison soldiers, raised his arm and cried out. Without troops armed with bows or halberds, but only hoes, rakes, and bare clubs, they seized food wherever houses came into view and ranged across the world. Yet the Qin did not hold their natural strongpoints, close the passes and bridges, thrust with their long halberds, or fire their powerful crossbows. The Chu armies penetrated deep into Qin territory and fought at Hongmen without even the difficulty of breaching a fence or hedge. At this, the lands east of the mountains were thrown into great disorder, the feudal lords rose together, and heroes and outstanding men established one another as rulers. Qin sent Zhang Han east as campaign general, but Zhang Han used the armies under his command to bargain outside the court and scheme against his superiors. This shows plainly that the ministers could not be trusted. When Ziying was enthroned, he still failed to understand this. Suppose Ziying had possessed the abilities of an ordinary ruler and had obtained even middling assistants. Though the lands east of the mountains were in chaos, Qin territory could have been preserved intact, and the sacrifices of the ancestral temples need not have been extinguished.
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秦地被山帶河以為固，四塞之國也。 自繆公以來，至於秦王，二十餘君，常為諸侯雄。 豈世世賢哉？ 其勢居然也。 且天下嘗同心并力而攻秦矣。 當此之世，賢智并列，良將行其師，賢相通其謀，然困於阻險而不能進，秦乃延入戰而為之開關，百萬之徒逃北而遂壞。 豈勇力智慧不足哉？ 形不利，勢不便也。 秦小邑并大城，守險塞而軍，高壘毋戰，閉關據阨，荷戟而守之。 諸侯起於匹夫，以利合，非有素王之行也。 其交未親，其下未附，名為亡秦，其實利之也。 彼見秦阻之難犯也，必退師。 安土息民，以待其敝，收弱扶罷，以令大國之君，不患不得意於海內。 貴為天子，富有天下，而身為禽者，其救敗非也。
Qin’s territory, protected by mountains and girded by the Yellow River, was a state enclosed by barriers on all four sides. From Duke Mu down to the King of Qin, more than twenty rulers were consistently the strongest among the feudal lords. Could every generation really have been worthy? Their strategic position simply made it so. Moreover, the whole realm had once joined heart and strength in attacking Qin. In that age, worthy and wise men stood side by side, good generals led the armies, and capable chancellors coordinated the plans. Yet they were trapped by Qin’s natural barriers and could not advance. Qin opened the passes to draw them in for battle, and armies of a million men fled in defeat and collapsed. Could courage, strength, wisdom, and strategy truly have been insufficient? The terrain was unfavorable, and the strategic position gave them no advantage. Qin combined small towns into great cities, held the dangerous passes with armies, raised high ramparts and refused battle, closed the passes, occupied the defiles, and stood guard with troops. The feudal lords had risen from common men and united out of self-interest; they did not have the conduct of an uncrowned king. Their alliances were not close and their followers were not attached to them. Although their declared aim was to destroy Qin, in truth they sought advantage for themselves. When they saw that Qin’s barriers were hard to violate, they were bound to withdraw their armies. Had Qin secured its lands and rested its people, waited for the enemy to wear itself out, and gathered the weak while supporting the exhausted, it could have commanded the rulers of the great states. It need not have worried that it would fail to realize its ambitions within the seas. Although they were honored as emperors and possessed the wealth of the realm, they themselves were captured because their measures for rescuing failure were wrong.
63
秦王足己不問，遂過而不變。 二世受之，因而不改，暴虐以重禍。 子嬰孤立無親，危弱無輔。 三主惑而終身不悟，亡，不亦宜乎？ 當此時也，世非無深慮知化之士也，然所以不敢盡忠拂過者，秦俗多忌諱之禁，忠言未卒於口而身為戮沒矣。 故使天下之士，傾耳而聽，重足而立，拑口而不言。 是以三主失道，忠臣不敢諫，智士不敢謀，天下已亂，姦不上聞，豈不哀哉！ 先王知雍蔽之傷國也，故置公卿大夫士，以飾法設刑，而天下治。 其彊也，禁暴誅亂而天下服。 其弱也，五伯征而諸侯從。 其削也，內守外附而社稷存。 故秦之盛也，繁法嚴刑而天下振； 及其衰也，百姓怨望而海內畔矣。 故周五序得其道，而千餘歲不絕。 秦本末并失，故不長久。 由此觀之，安危之統相去遠矣。 野諺曰「前事之不忘，後事之師也」。 是以君子為國，觀之上古，驗之當世，參以人事，察盛衰之理，審權勢之宜，去就有序，變化有時，故曠日長久而社稷安矣。
The Qin king was self-satisfied and would not seek counsel, so he persisted in error without changing course. The Second Emperor inherited this course and refused to change it, adding violence and cruelty and deepening the disaster. Ziying stood alone, without kin to rely on; endangered and weak, he had no one to assist him. The three rulers were deluded and never awakened throughout their lives. Was it not fitting that they perished? At that time, the world was not without men of deep thought who understood changing circumstances. Yet they did not dare give full loyalty or correct errors, because Qin customs were full of prohibitions and suspicion. Thus, the scholars of the world listened with ears tilted forward, stood with feet pressed together, and kept their mouths shut without speaking. Thus, the three rulers lost the Way; loyal ministers dared not remonstrate, and wise men dared not plan. The world was already in chaos, yet treachery was not reported upward. Is this not pitiful? The former kings knew that obstruction and concealment harmed the state, and therefore they established dukes, ministers, grandees, and officers to order the laws, set punishments, and keep the world governed. When the royal house was strong, it suppressed violence, punished disorder, and the realm submitted. When it was weak, the Five Hegemons campaigned and the feudal lords followed them. When it was diminished, it guarded itself within and attached itself to allies without, and the altars of soil and grain survived. Thus, when Qin flourished, its many laws and severe punishments shook the realm; when it declined, the common people were resentful, and everyone within the seas rebelled. Thus, Zhou obtained the Way through the Five Orders, and its line did not end for more than a thousand years. Qin lost both root and branch, and therefore it did not endure. Seen from this, the principles of safety and danger are separated by a great distance. A country proverb says, “Do not forget what came before; it is the teacher of what comes after.” Therefore, when a gentleman governs a state, he observes high antiquity, tests it against the present age, compares it with human affairs, examines the principles of flourishing and decline, and judges what power and circumstance require. Advance and retreat have their order, and change has its proper time; in this way, over long days and many years, the altars of soil and grain remain secure.
64
秦孝公據殽函之固，擁雍州之地，君臣固守而窺周室，有席卷天下，包舉宇內，囊括四海之意，并吞八荒之心。 當是時，商君佐之，內立法度，務耕織，修守戰之備，外連衡而鬬諸侯，於是秦人拱手而取西河之外。
Duke Xiao of Qin occupied the strongholds of Xiao and Hangu and possessed the lands of Yongzhou. With ruler and ministers holding them firmly, he watched the Zhou royal house, intending to sweep up the realm, encompass the empire, gather in the four seas, and swallow the eight directions. At that time Lord Shang assisted him. Inside the state he established laws and institutions, promoted farming and weaving, and prepared for defense and war; outside the state he used horizontal alliances to set the feudal lords against one another. Thus, the people of Qin took the lands west of the Yellow River almost without lifting a hand.
65
孝公既沒，惠王、武王蒙故業，因遺冊，南兼漢中，西舉巴、蜀，東割膏腴之地，收要害之郡。 諸侯恐懼，會盟而謀弱秦，不愛珍器重寶肥美之地，以致天下之士，合從締交，相與為一。 當是時，齊有孟嘗，趙有平原，楚有春申，魏有信陵。 此四君者，皆明知而忠信，寬厚而愛人，尊賢重士，約從離衡，并韓、魏、燕、楚、齊、趙、宋、衛、中山之眾。 於是六國之士有寧越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周最、陳軫、昭滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶佗、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之朋制其兵。 常以十倍之地，百萬之眾，叩關而攻秦。 秦人開關延敵，九國之師逡巡遁逃而不敢進。 秦無亡矢遺鏃之費，而天下諸侯已困矣。 於是從散約解，爭割地而奉秦。 秦有餘力而制其敝，追亡逐北，伏尸百萬，流血漂鹵。 因利乘便，宰割天下，分裂河山，彊國請服，弱國入朝。 延及孝文王、莊襄王，享國日淺，國家無事。
After Duke Xiao died, King Hui and King Wu inherited the old enterprise and followed the plans left behind. To the south they annexed Hanzhong, to the west they took Ba and Shu, and to the east they carved away rich lands and seized commanderies at strategic points. The feudal lords were afraid. They met in alliance and plotted to weaken Qin, sparing no precious vessels, heavy treasures, or fertile lands in order to attract the scholars of the realm. They joined in a vertical alliance, bound themselves by treaty, and became one body. At the time, Qi had Lord Mengchang, Zhao had Lord Pingyuan, Chu had Lord Chunshen, and Wei had Lord Xinling. These four lords were all intelligent and trustworthy, generous and loving toward others, honoring the worthy and valuing scholars. They bound the vertical alliance and broke the horizontal alliance, uniting the forces of Han, Wei, Yan, Chu, Qi, Zhao, Song, Wei, and Zhongshan. Thus, among the scholars of the six states, Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, Du He, and others planned for them; Qi Ming, Zhou Zui, Chen Zhen, Zhao Hua, Lou Huan, Zhai Jing, Su Li, Yue Yi, and their like communicated their intentions; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Er Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, Zhao She, and their comrades directed their armies. They often brought land ten times as great and armies of a million to knock at the passes and attack Qin. Qin opened the passes to draw the enemy in, and the armies of the nine states hesitated, retreated, and dared not advance. Qin did not incur even the cost of a lost arrow or discarded arrowhead, yet the feudal lords of the world were already exhausted. The vertical alliance then scattered, the covenants dissolved, and the states competed to cut off territory and present it to Qin. Qin then used its remaining strength to master their exhaustion, pursuing fugitives and driving the defeated before it; corpses lay by the million, and flowing blood floated shields. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qin carved up the realm and divided the rivers and mountains. Strong states requested submission, and weak states entered its court. This continued down to King Xiaowen and King Zhuangxiang, whose reigns were brief and whose state saw no major affairs.
66
及至秦王，續六世之餘烈，振長策而御宇內，吞二周而亡諸侯，履至尊而制六合，執棰拊以鞭笞天下，威振四海。 南取百越之地，以為桂林、象郡，百越之君俛首系頸，委命下吏。 乃使蒙恬北筑長城而守藩籬，卻匈奴七百餘里，胡人不敢南下而牧馬，士不敢彎弓而報怨。 於是廢先王之道，焚百家之言，以愚黔首。 墮名城，殺豪俊，收天下之兵聚之咸陽，銷鋒鑄鐻，以為金人十二，以弱黔首之民。 然後斬華為城，因河為津，據億丈之城，臨不測之谿以為固。 良將勁弩守要害之處，信臣精卒陳利兵而誰何，天下以定。 秦王之心，自以為關中之固，金城千里，子孫帝王萬世之業也。
When it reached the King of Qin, he continued the accumulated achievements of six generations and wielded the long whip to control the realm within. He swallowed the two Zhou states and destroyed the feudal lords, mounted the supreme position and ruled the six directions, and used rod and whip to lash the realm. His awe shook the four seas. To the south, he seized the lands of the Baiyue and made them Guilin and Xiang commanderies; the lords of the Baiyue bowed their heads, put ropes around their necks, and entrusted their lives to petty officials. He then sent Meng Tian north to build the Great Wall and guard the frontier, driving the Xiongnu back more than seven hundred li, so that the Hu people did not dare come south to pasture their horses and their warriors did not dare bend their bows in revenge. Qin then set aside the Way of the former kings and burned the writings of the Hundred Schools in order to keep the common people ignorant. He destroyed famous cities, killed outstanding men, gathered the world's weapons in Xianyang, melted away the blades and cast bells, and made twelve golden men to weaken the common people. After that, he used Mount Hua as his wall and the Yellow River as his moat, occupied a city of immeasurable height, and relied on unfathomable ravines as his strongholds. Elite generals and strong crossbowmen guarded the key points, while faithful ministers and elite soldiers stood arrayed with sharp weapons to challenge any who came; thus the world was settled. The King of Qin believed that Guanzhong’s defenses formed a thousand-li city of metal walls, an enterprise by which his descendants would be emperors and kings for ten thousand generations.
67
秦王既沒，餘威振於殊俗。 陳涉，罋牖繩樞之子，甿隸之人，而遷徙之徒，才能不及中人，非有仲尼、墨翟之賢，陶朱、猗頓之富，躡足行伍之閒，而倔起什伯之中，率罷散之卒，將數百之眾，而轉攻秦。 斬木為兵，揭竿為旗，天下雲集響應，贏糧而景從，山東豪俊遂并起而亡秦族矣。
After the Qin king died, his lingering authority still shook distant customs and peoples. Chen She was the son of a poor peasant family, a common laborer and migrant who lacked the talents of ordinary men, let alone the worth of Confucius or Mozi or the wealth of Tao Zhu and Yi Dun. Yet he rose from the ranks with the lowest troops, led a few hundred men, and turned to attack Qin. They cut wood for weapons and raised poles for flags. The world gathered like clouds in response, carrying grain and following like a shadow, and the heroes of the eastern states rose together and destroyed the Qin house.
68
且夫天下非小弱也，雍州之地，殽函之固自若也。 陳涉之位，非尊於齊、楚、燕、趙、韓、魏、宋、衛、中山之君； 鉏櫌棘矜，非錟於句戟長鎩也； 適戍之眾，非抗於九國之師； 深謀遠慮，行軍用兵之道，非及鄉時之士也。 然而成敗異變，功業相反也。 試使山東之國與陳涉度長絜大，比權量力，則不可同年而語矣。 然秦以區區之地，千乘之權，招八州而朝同列，百有餘年矣。 然後以六合為家，殽函為宮，一夫作難而七廟墮，身死人手，為天下笑者，何也？ 仁義不施而攻守之勢異也。
The world was not weak and small; the land of Yongzhou and the strength of Xiaohan remained as before. Chen She’s rank was no higher than that of the rulers of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei, Song, Wei, and Zhongshan; his hoes, wooden spears, thorn branches, and staffs were no sharper than hooked halberds and long lances; his masses of conscripted border guards were no match for the armies of the nine states; In deep planning, long-range thinking, marching armies, and using troops, he did not equal the scholars of earlier times. Yet success and failure changed places, and their achievements were reversed. If you set the states of the east against Chen She and compare length and breadth, strength and weight, they cannot be spoken of in the same breath. Yet Qin, with a tiny territory and the power of a thousand chariots, summoned the eight regions and made the lords come to court for more than a hundred years. Then it came to make the whole realm its household; but when a single man caused trouble, the seven ancestral temples fell, and the ruler died at the hands of others. Why was that? It was because benevolence and righteousness were not practiced, and the strategic positions of attack and defense had changed.
69
秦并海內，兼諸侯，南面稱帝，以養四海，天下之士斐然鄉風，若是者何也？ 曰：近古之無王者久矣。 周室卑微，五霸既歿，令不行於天下，是以諸侯力政，彊侵弱，眾暴寡，兵革不休，士民罷敝。 今秦南面而王天下，是上有天子也。 既元元之民冀得安其性命，莫不虛心而仰上，當此之時，守威定功，安危之本在於此矣。
Qin united the realm, annexed the feudal lords, faced south as emperor, and nourished the four seas. Why, then, did the world’s scholars turn toward it so readily? Because there had been no true king for a very long time. The Zhou house was low and weak; the five hegemons were gone; commands did not travel throughout the world. Thus, the lords governed by force, the strong oppressed the weak, the many bullied the few, weapons never rested, and scholars and commoners were worn out. Now Qin faced south and ruled the world. This meant there was an emperor above. Since the common people all hoped to secure their lives, none failed to open their hearts and look up to him. At such a time, preserving authority and establishing merit was the foundation of safety or danger.
70
秦王懷貪鄙之心，行自奮之智，不信功臣，不親士民，廢王道，立私權，禁文書而酷刑法，先詐力而後仁義，以暴虐為天下始。 夫并兼者高詐力，安定者貴順權，此言取與守不同術也。 秦離戰國而王天下，其道不易，其政不改，是其所以取之守之者［無］異也。 孤獨而有之，故其亡可立而待。 借使秦王計上世之事，并殷周之跡，以制御其政，後雖有淫驕之主而未有傾危之患也。 故三王之建天下，名號顯美，功業長久。
The King of Qin harbored greedy and base thoughts and acted out of self-reliant cleverness. He did not trust meritorious officials and did not draw close to scholars and commoners. He abolished the kingly Way, established private authority, prohibited books and writings, made punishments and laws cruel, put deceit and force first and benevolence and righteousness last, and made violence and cruelty the starting point for ruling the realm. Those who annex and conquer prize deceit and force; those who bring peace and stability value adapting to circumstance. In other words, taking territory and holding it require different methods. Qin emerged from the Warring States and ruled the realm, yet its methods did not change, and its government was not altered. This meant that the methods by which it took the empire and held the empire were no different. Holding the empire in isolation and alone, Qin’s fall could simply be waited for. If the Qin king had taken account of the affairs of earlier generations and combined the precedents of Yin and Zhou to regulate his government, later arrogant and licentious rulers still would have posed no danger. The dynasty would not have collapsed. Therefore, when the Three Kings established their rule over the realm, their names and titles were splendid, and their achievements endured.
71
今秦二世立，天下莫不引領而觀其政。 夫寒者利裋褐而饑者甘糟糠，天下之嗷嗷，新主之資也。 此言勞民之易為仁也。 鄉使二世有庸主之行，而任忠賢，臣主一心而憂海內之患，縞素而正先帝之過，裂地分民以封功臣之後，建國立君以禮天下，虛囹圉而免刑戮，除去收帑汙穢之罪，使各反其鄉里，發倉廩，散財幣，以振孤獨窮困之士，輕賦少事，以佐百姓之急，約法省刑以持其後，使天下之人皆得自新，更節修行，各慎其身，塞萬民之望，而以威德與天下，天下集矣。 即四海之內，皆讙各自安樂其處，唯恐有變，雖有狡猾之民，無離上之心，則不軌之臣無以飾其智，而暴亂之姦止矣。 二世不行此術，而重之以無道，壞宗廟與民，更始作阿房宮，繁刑嚴誅，吏治刻深，賞罰不當，賦斂無度，天下多事，吏弗能紀，百姓困窮而主弗收恤。 然後姦偽并起，而上下相遁，蒙罪者眾，刑戮相望於道，而天下苦之。 自君卿以下至于眾庶，人懷自危之心，親處窮苦之實，咸不安其位，故易動也。 是以陳涉不用湯武之賢，不藉公侯之尊，奮臂於大澤而天下響應者，其民危也。 故先王見始終之變，知存亡之機，是以牧民之道，務在安之而已。 天下雖有逆行之臣，必無響應之助矣。 故曰「安民可與行義，而危民易與為非」，此之謂也。 貴為天子，富有天下，身不免於戮殺者，正傾非也。 是二世之過也。
Now when the Second Emperor of Qin was established, everyone in the world craned their necks to observe his government. The cold welcome even a coarse short coat, and the hungry find bran and chaff sweet; the cries of the realm were the new ruler’s opportunity. This means that it is easy to show benevolence to a weary people. If the Second Emperor had behaved like an ordinary ruler and employed the loyal and worthy, ruler and ministers would have united in concern for the troubles within the seas. If he had worn plain clothes to correct the First Emperor's errors, divided land and people among the descendants of meritorious men, and established states and lords to govern the world properly, he would have eased the people's burden. If he had emptied prisons and lifted punishments, removed the guilt of collected arrears and corruption, sent each person back to his village, opened the granaries, and distributed wealth and goods to aid orphans, widows, the poor, and the destitute, he would have relieved the people's hardship. If he had lightened taxes and reduced demands, simplified the laws and reduced punishments, and let the people renew themselves and reform their conduct, then the world would have gathered around him. Then within the four seas everyone would rejoice, each at peace in his own place, fearing only change. Even if there were crafty people, without hearts turning away from their superiors, rebellious ministers would have no way to display their cunning, and violent disorder would stop. The Second Emperor did not follow this course. Instead, he went further into lawlessness, destroyed the ancestral temples and oppressed the people, resumed work on the Epang Palace, multiplied punishments and executions, made the administration harsh and exacting, set rewards and punishments badly, imposed taxes without limit, left the world in turmoil, left the officials unable to manage it, and left the common people poor and destitute without relief. Then treachery and falsehood arose together, superiors and inferiors deceived one another, many people were falsely accused, punishments and executions lined the roads, and the whole realm suffered from it. From lords and ministers down to the common multitude, everyone harbored a sense of personal danger and endured real poverty and hardship; none was secure in his position, and therefore they were easy to stir into motion. Therefore, Chen She did not rely on the worthiness of Tang and Wu or borrow the prestige of dukes and marquises. He raised his arm in the great marsh, and the world responded, because his people were in danger. Thus, the former kings saw how beginnings and endings change and understood the turning points of survival and ruin. For this reason, the way to shepherd the people lies simply in keeping them secure. Then even if rebellious ministers existed in the realm, they would surely find no answering support. Thus, the saying runs: “With a secure people one can practice righteousness, but with an endangered people it is easy to do wrong.” This is what it means. That one honored as Son of Heaven and wealthy with the whole realm did not escape slaughter was precisely because his government was overturned and wrong. This was the Second Emperor's fault.
72
襄公立，享國十二年。 初為西畤。 葬西垂。 生文公。
Duke Xiang established, enjoyed the state twelve years. Initially established the western altar. Buried at the western border. Bore Duke Wen.
73
文公立，居西垂宮。 五十年死，葬西垂。 生靜公。
Duke Wen established, resided in the western border palace. After fifty years died, buried at the western border. Bore Duke Jing.
74
靜公不享國而死。 生憲公。
Duke Jing did not enjoy the state and died. Bore Duke Xian.
75
憲公享國十二年，居西新邑。 死，葬衙。 生武公、德公、出子。
Duke Xian enjoyed the state twelve years, resided in the western new settlement. Died, buried at Ya. Bore Duke Wu, Duke De, Chu Zi.
76
出子享國六年，居西陵。 庶長弗忌、威累、參父三人，率賊賊出子鄙衍，葬衙。 武公立。
Chu Zi enjoyed the state six years, resided in the western mound. The three officials Fu Ji, Wei Lei, and Shen Fu led bandits to assassinate Chuzi at Biyan; he was buried at Ya. Duke Wu established.
77
武公享國二十年。 居平陽封宮。 葬宣陽聚東南。 三庶長伏其罪。 德公立。
Duke Wu enjoyed the state twenty years. Resided in the Pingyang Feng Palace. Buried at the Xuanyang gathering to the southeast. The three prime ministers confessed their crimes. Duke De established.
78
德公享國二年。 居雍大鄭宮。 生宣公、成公、繆公。 葬陽。 初伏，以御蠱。
Duke De enjoyed the state two years. Resided in the Yong Great Zheng Palace. Bore Duke Xuan, Duke Cheng, Duke Mu. Buried at Yang. Initially established the dog days festival to ward off poison.
79
宣公享國十二年。 居陽宮。 葬陽。 初志閏月。
Duke Xuan enjoyed the state twelve years. Resided in the Yang Palace. Buried at Yang. Initially began recording intercalary months.
80
成公享國四年，居雍之宮。 葬陽。 齊伐山戎、孤竹。
Duke Cheng enjoyed the state four years, resided in Yong's palace. Buried at Yang. Qi launched attacks against the Shanrong and Guzhu tribes.
81
繆公享國三十九年。 天子致霸。 葬雍。 繆公學著人。 生康公。
Duke Mu reigned for thirty-nine years. The Son of Heaven conferred upon him the title of hegemon. He was buried in Yong. Duke Mu was succeeded by Duke Kang. Duke Kang was born to him.
82
康公享國十二年。 居雍高寢。 葬竘社。 生共公。
Duke Kang reigned for twelve years. He resided in the elevated hall in Yong. He was buried at Jiusha. Duke Gong was born to him.
83
共公享國五年，居雍高寢。 葬康公南。 生桓公。
Duke Gong reigned for five years and resided in the elevated hall in Yong. He was buried to the south of Duke Kang's tomb. Duke Huan was born to him.
84
桓公享國二十七年。 居雍太寢。 葬義裏丘北。 生景公。
Duke Huan reigned for twenty-seven years. He resided in the grand hall in Yong. He was buried north of Yili Hill. Duke Jing was born to him.
85
景公享國四十年。 居雍高寢，葬丘裏南。 生畢公。
Duke Jing reigned for forty years. He resided in the elevated hall in Yong and was buried south of Qiuli. Duke Bi was born to him.
86
畢公享國三十六年。 葬車裏北。 生夷公。
Duke Bi reigned for thirty-six years. He was buried north of Cheli. Duke Yi was born to him.
87
夷公不享國。 死，葬左宮。 生惠公。
Duke Yi did not ascend to the throne. He died and was buried in the left palace. Duke Hui was born to him.
88
惠公享國十年。 葬車里（康景）。 生悼公。
Duke Hui reigned for ten years. He was buried in Xichui. Duke Dao was born to him.
89
悼公享國十五年。 葬僖公西。 城雍。 生剌龔公。
Duke Dao reigned for fifteen years. He was buried to the west of Duke Xi's tomb. The walls of Yong were built. Duke Laigong was born to him.
90
剌龔公享國三十四年。 葬入里。 生躁公、懷公。 其十年，彗星見。
Duke Laigong reigned for thirty-four years. He was buried at Ruli. Duke Zhao and Duke Huai were born to him. In the tenth year of his reign, a comet was sighted.
91
躁公享國十四年。 居受寢。 葬悼公南。 其元年，彗星見。
Duke Zhao reigned for fourteen years. He resided in the Shou hall. He was buried to the south of Duke Dao's tomb. In the first year of his reign, a comet was sighted.
92
懷公從晉來。 享國四年。 葬櫟圉氏。 生靈公。 諸臣圍懷公，懷公自殺。
Duke Huai returned from Jin. He reigned for four years. He was buried at Luyushi. Duke Ling was born to him. The ministers besieged Duke Huai, forcing him to commit suicide.
93
肅靈公，昭子子也。 居涇陽。 享國十年。 葬悼公西。 生簡公。
Duke Suling was the son of Zhaozi. He resided in Jingyang. He reigned for ten years. He was buried to the west of Duke Dao's tomb. Duke Jian was born to him.
94
簡公從晉來。 享國十五年。 葬僖公西。 生惠公。 其七年。 百姓初帶劍。
Duke Jian returned from Jin. He reigned for fifteen years. He was buried to the west of Duke Xi's tomb. Duke Hui was born to him. In his seventh year. Commoners were first permitted to carry swords.
95
惠公享國十三年。 葬陵圉。 生出公。
Duke Hui reigned for thirteen years. He was buried at Lingyu. Duke Chu was born to him.
96
出公享國二年。 出公自殺，葬雍。
Duke Chu reigned for two years. Duke Chu committed suicide and was buried in Yong.
97
獻公享國二十三年。 葬囂圉。 生孝公。
Duke Xian reigned for twenty-three years. He was buried at Xiaoyu. Duke Xiao was born to him.
98
孝公享國二十四年。 葬弟圉。 生惠文王。 其十三年，始都咸陽。
Duke Xiao reigned for twenty-four years. He was buried at Diyu. King Huiwen was born to him. In his thirteenth year, Xianyang was first established as the capital.
99
惠文王享國二十七年。 葬公陵。 生悼武王。
King Huiwen reigned for twenty-seven years. He was buried at Gongling. King Daowu was born to him.
100
悼武王享國四年，葬永陵。
King Daowu reigned for four years and was buried at Yongling.
101
昭襄王享國五十六年。 葬茝陽。 生孝文王。
King Zhaoxiang reigned for fifty-six years. He was buried at Chaiyang. King Xiaowen was born to him.
102
孝文王享國一年。 葬壽陵。 生莊襄王。
King Xiaowen reigned for one year. He was buried at Shouling. King Zhuangxiang was born to him.
103
莊襄王享國三年。 葬茝陽。 生始皇帝。 呂不韋相。
King Zhuangxiang reigned for three years. He was buried at Chaiyang. The First Emperor was born to him. Lü Buwei served as chancellor.
104
獻公立七年，初行為市。 十年，為戶籍相伍。
In the seventh year of Duke Xian's reign, markets were first established. In the tenth year, a system of household registration in groups of five was established.
105
孝公立十六年。 時桃李冬華。
In Duke Xiao's sixteenth year. At this time, peaches and plums bloomed in winter.
106
惠文王生十九年而立。 立二年，初行錢。 有新生嬰兒曰「秦且王」。
King Huiwen ascended the throne at nineteen years of age. In his second year on the throne, coinage was first introduced. A newborn infant was said to have cried, "Qin will yet reign."
107
悼武王生十九年而立。 立三年，渭水赤三日。
King Daowu ascended the throne at nineteen years of age. In his third year on the throne, the Wei River ran red for three days.
108
昭襄王生十九年而立。 立四年，初為田開阡陌。
King Zhaoxiang ascended the throne at nineteen years of age. In his fourth year on the throne, the well-field system was first abolished, opening up the paths and boundaries between fields.
109
孝文王生五十三年而立。
King Xiaowen ascended the throne at fifty-three years of age.
110
莊襄王生三十二年而立。 立二年，取太原地。 莊襄王元年，大赦，修先王功臣，施德厚骨肉，布惠於民。 東周與諸侯謀秦，秦使相國不韋誅之，盡入其國。 秦不絕其祀，以陽人地賜周君，奉其祭祀。
King Zhuangxiang ascended the throne at thirty-two years of age. In his second year on the throne, he conquered the territory of Taiyuan. In the first year of King Zhuangxiang's reign, there was a general amnesty. He honored the meritorious ministers of previous kings, treated his relatives with generous virtue, and spread benevolence among the people. The Eastern Zhou conspired with the other feudal lords against Qin. Qin dispatched Chancellor Lü Buwei to execute their ruler and absorb his territory. Qin did not extinguish his lineage, granting the Lord of Zhou territory in Yangren to maintain his ancestral sacrifices.
111
始皇享國三十七年。 葬酈邑。 生二世皇帝。 始皇生十三年而立。
The First Emperor reigned for thirty-seven years. He was buried in Liyi. The Second Emperor was born to him. The First Emperor ascended the throne at thirteen years of age.
112
二世皇帝享國三年。 葬宜春。 趙高為丞相安武侯。 二世生十二年而立。
The Second Emperor reigned for three years. He was buried at Yichun. Zhao Gao became Chancellor and Marquis of Anwu. The Second Emperor ascended the throne at twelve years of age.
113
右秦襄公至二世，六百一十歲。
From Duke Xiang of Qin to the Second Emperor was six hundred and ten years.
114
孝明皇帝十七年十月十五日乙丑，曰：
On the yichou day, the fifteenth day of the tenth month in the seventeenth year of Emperor Xiaoming, the text reads:
115
周歷已移，仁不代母。 秦直其位，呂政殘虐。 然以諸侯十三，并兼天下，極情縱欲，養育宗親。 三十七年，兵無所不加，制作政令，施於後王。 蓋得聖人之威，河神授圖，據狼、狐，蹈參、伐，佐政驅除，距之稱始皇。
The Zhou calendar had already been superseded; benevolence cannot replace maternal authority. Qin seized power directly; Lü Zheng was cruel and tyrannical. Yet starting with thirteen feudal lords, he unified and annexed the realm. He indulged his passions and desires to the extreme, nurturing and raising his clan relatives. For thirty-seven years, his armies were deployed everywhere. He created systems and commands that were applied to later kings. He obtained the authority of a sage; the river god bestowed charts upon him. He held the constellations Lang and Hu, trod upon Can and Fa. He assisted in government and drove out evil, thus was called the First Emperor.
116
始皇既歿，胡亥極愚，酈山未畢，復作阿房，以遂前策。 云「凡所為貴有天下者，肆意極欲，大臣至欲罷先君所為」。 誅斯、去疾，任用趙高。 痛哉言乎！ 人頭畜鳴。 不威不伐惡，不篤不虛亡，距之不得留，殘虐以促期，雖居形便之國，猶不得存。
After the First Emperor died, Hu Hai was extremely foolish. Lishan was not yet finished, yet he resumed construction of Epang Palace to fulfill the previous strategy. It says, “In general, those who are honored by possessing the realm indulge their desires to the extreme, while great ministers may even wish to abolish what the former ruler established.” He executed Li Si and Feng Quji, and put Zhao Gao in office. How painful these words are! Human heads spoke while beasts called out. Without awe-inspiring presence, one cannot extol virtue and punish evil. Without sincerity, one will perish in vain. Rejecting good counsel leads to ruin; cruel tyranny hastens destruction. Even in a state with natural advantages, survival becomes impossible.
117
子嬰度次得嗣，冠玉冠，佩華紱，車黃屋，從百司，謁七廟。 小人乘非位，莫不怳忽失守，偷安日日，獨能長念卻慮，父子作權，近取於戶牖之閒，竟誅猾臣，為君討賊。 高死之後，賓婚未得盡相勞，餐未及下咽，酒未及濡脣，楚兵已屠關中，真人翔霸上，素車嬰組，奉其符璽，以歸帝者。 鄭伯茅旌鸞刀，嚴王退舍。 河決不可復壅，魚爛不可復全。 賈誼、司馬遷曰：「向使嬰有庸主之才，僅得中佐，山東雖亂，秦之地可全而有，宗廟之祀未當絕也。」 秦之積衰，天下土崩瓦解，雖有周旦之材，無所復陳其巧，而以責一日之孤，誤哉！ 俗傳秦始皇起罪惡，胡亥極，得其理矣。 復責小子，云秦地可全，所謂不通時變者也。 紀季以酅，春秋不名。 吾讀秦紀，至於子嬰車裂趙高，未嘗不健其決，憐其志。 嬰死生之義備矣。
Ziying assessed the proper sequence and obtained the succession. He wore the jade crown, donned the splendid sash, rode in the yellow-canopied chariot, was followed by the hundred officials, and paid respects at the seven ancestral temples. Petty men took positions they did not deserve; none failed to suddenly lose their composure and abandon their duties. They sought daily comfort in complacency. Only Ziying could maintain long-term vision and reject shortsighted worries. Father and son wielded authority together, drawing power from their immediate household. In the end, they executed the treacherous ministers and eliminated traitors for their lord. After Zhao Gao’s death, before guest and host could fully exchange courtesies, before food could be swallowed or wine moisten the lips, Chu troops had already slaughtered Guanzhong. The True Man arrived at Bashang, and Ziying, in a plain carriage with white cords, presented the tallies and seals and handed them over to the emperor. The Lord of Zheng displayed thatched banners and phoenix-decorated knives; King Yan respectfully withdrew. A breached river cannot be dammed again; rotten fish cannot be made whole. Jia Yi and Sima Qian said, “If Ziying had possessed even the talent of an ordinary ruler and had obtained only middling assistants, then although the lands east of the mountains were in turmoil, Qin’s territory could have been preserved and held, and the sacrifices in its ancestral temple need not have been cut off.” Qin’s accumulated decline was deep, and the realm was collapsing like earth and breaking like tiles. Even with the talent of the Duke of Zhou, there would have been nowhere left to display his skill. To blame an isolated man who had ruled for only a day was a mistake! Popular tradition holds that Qin Shihuang arose from wickedness, and Hu Hai carried it to extremes. This captures the essence of it. Yet he again blamed Ziying, saying the Qin territories could have been preserved. This is what is meant by not understanding the changing times. Ji Ji was enfeoffed at Zui; the Spring and Autumn Annals does not record his name. When I read the Qin records, especially the part where Ziying had Zhao Gao torn apart by chariots, I cannot help admiring his decisiveness and pitying his noble intentions. Ziying fulfilled all the duties of life and death.